Expert: Walter Hintz - 12/4/2006

Question
my daughter is 2 months old and she was born with reddish blonde brown hair but im concerned where the red came from or iff it will change. she has strawberry blonde eyebrows and brown  eyelashes . my grandma had platinum blonde hair and my husbands dad had strawberry blondish brown hair and my uncle has auburn hair... where the heck did it come from and will it change. please help me im concerned cuz my son has dark brown hair qnd they dont have the same hair... but im sure the dad is the same person for both just incase you wondered. wouldnt she have red eyelashes if she was permanently goin to be red.me and my husband have both got dark brown hair he has drk brn eyes and i have green eyes... thank you very much for helping me.

Answer
Hi alycia.  We are all the result of the DNA we inherit.  Your daughters fraternal grandfather had the reddish genes so that is probably where she got them. And your grandmother was a blond.  The reddish pigments are recessive.  You and your husband are both carrying the recessive genes. It most likely will not change.  Why are your concerned? She sounds beautiful.