Pigment

Pigment is like the color of your favorite crayon. When you color with your orange crayon, you are seeing pigment. Pigment is what gives color to things like your skin, hair, and eyes. It is also what makes flowers and animals look pretty with all their different colors.

Inside your body, there are little cells that make pigment called melanin. Melanin helps protect your skin from the sun's rays, which can be harmful. People with lots of melanin have darker skin, and people with less melanin have lighter skin.

Pigment can be made from natural things like plants and animals or it can be made in a lab. Scientists use pigment to make things like paint, markers, and even food coloring. Without pigment, everything would be pretty boring and look the same!