Peptides have been identified that bind with high affinity to body surfaces, such as, hair, skin, nails, teeth, gums, and oral cavity surfaces. Peptide-based body surface coloring reagents, preferably tooth coloring reagents, are formed by coupling a tooth binding peptide to a pigment binding peptide, either directly or through a spacer. The peptide-based body coloring reagents may be used in conjunction with pigments to color body surfaces.