Hair is a filamentous, usually pigmented outgrowth from the skin found only in mammals (except for lips, fingertips, palms, soles, and the glans penis). Hair grows from hair follicles located in the dermis layer of the skin. Each hair consists of thin, non-living cells mainly composed of the protein keratin. The outermost cell layer, called the cuticle, helps protect the more fragile, inner medulla and cortex of the hair shaft from damage.
Hair color is primarily determined by the amount of melanin in each hair cell. The more melanin a cell has, the darker that particular hair will be. However, some hairs also have a red or purple tint due to an additional genetic mutation known as a dilute color gene (DCP). There are three layers to a single hair strand: the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. Each of these layers plays a role in the hair’s color and texture.
The structure of hair is based on a fibrous protein called keratin, which can also be found in nails and the outermost layer of the skin. The keratin in hair is made of a complex combination of proteins that are held together by cysteine residues that form disulfide bonds. These are what give the hair its strength and resilience.
Depending on the shape of the hair follicle, a person can either have straight or curly hair. The follicles that produce straight hair are roughly oval in cross section, while the follicles that produce curly hair have one main c-shaped curve and a smaller secondary curve.
There are also two types of body hair: vellus hair and terminal hair. Vellus hair is very short and soft, and it’s found all over the body, including in the eyebrows, armpits, and pubic area. Terminal hair is longer and coarser, and it’s found on the head.
When writing about your characters, use body hair descriptions to immerse readers in their worlds. They can tell you a lot about the character, from how they move to how they look in general. Using these descriptive words can add another layer to your character and make them more fully developed.
It’s important to take care of your hair to keep it healthy and strong. Heat styling can cause a lot of damage, so be sure to limit the amount of times you use hot tools and when you do, always protect your hair with a heat protectant. Heat protectants use ingredients like copolymers or silicones to coat the surface of the hair strand, slowing (though not stopping) heat conduction and helping reduce frizz and split ends. Another way to protect your hair is to hydrate it with natural oils, like argan oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil. Try applying a small amount to your hair before you use any kind of heat styling tool. It’s also a good idea to wash your hair less often, as excessive shampooing can dry out your hair and lead to breakage.