What type of melanin produces brown to black pigments in hair?

The type of melanin that produces brown to black pigments in hair is eumelanin. Eumelanin is the most common form of melanin, and it is responsible for the darker shades of hair, including black and various shades of brown. This pigment is crucial in determining the overall color and depth of the hair, with higher concentrations leading to darker hair colors.

In contrast, pheomelanin produces lighter shades, such as yellow and red pigments. Carotene is not a form of melanin; it is a pigment found in plants that can give a yellow or orange hue, and although it can affect hair color indirectly through diet, it does not contribute to hair pigmentation in the same way melanin does. Cyanin is not recognized as a common type of melanin in the context of hair pigmentation. Thus, the correct answer highlights the significance of eumelanin in the pigmentation process of hair.