The Chemistry of Redheads (IMAGE) American Chemical Society Caption The thing that sets redheads apart from the crowd is pigmentation. Most humans produce the brown-black eumelanin while redheads have a genetic variant making more reddish pheomelanin. How red hair is produced by redheads' cells might also explain why they have different sensation to pain. Watch the latest Reactions video here: https://youtu.be/Ylt_p2zzONw. Credit The American Chemical Society Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.