Are differences in hair color linked to any evolutionary advantage?

Different types of hair thickness, shape and color, have obviously been selected over the course of evolution for specific reasons.

The main function of hair color is to shield against the sun’s rays.

Every hair contains a certain amount of eumelanin and pheomelanin, two types of melanin which, combined in different concentrations, create a wide range of colors.

As a general rule, the darker the hair, the greater the degree of protection from ultraviolet rays, and this is evident when looking at different ethnicities.

The thickness and shape of the hair also have the function of protecting against the sun’s rays: the thicker the hair, the greater the protection provided.

Straightness, or lack thereof, is instead determined by the section of the hair: the more oval it is, the curlier the resulting hair will be.

For a given thickness, straight hair offer less protection than wavy hair, which in turn are less effective than curly hair.