Abstract: A consumable product utilized to maintain and restore hair color comprises a substrate and an effective amount of a directly available amino acid (in pure or diluted form) (obtainable, usually upon digestion or hydrolysis, from peptides, polypeptides, proteins, and derivatives thereof such as acyl and amide forms) wherein the directly available amino acid is selected from the group consisting of tyrosine, phenylalanine and mixtures thereof. Included is a related method for maintaining and restoring hair color that comprises the steps of adding an effective amount of a directly available amino acid selected from the group consisting of tyrosine, phenylalanine and mixtures thereof to a consumable product to produce a supplemented consumable. An efficacious amount of the supplemented consumable may be fed to an animal to maintain and restore hair color in the animal.