Also called pigment, melanin is what gives skin and hair its natural color. Melanin levels in humans are genetically predetermined: darker skin means higher amounts of melanin. One benefit of melanin is that it provides natural protection against ultraviolet rays of the sun. Hair color experts study melanin to understand how to choose and apply hair-color products to their clients. Colorists create different shades by adding artificial melanin to the hair in the tinting process.