Hair is a complex biomaterial that tells us about a person’s lifestyle, habits and personality. It can be a powerful tool for characterization and one that is easily overlooked. That is a shame, because it can reveal so much about your characters. Taking the time to describe hair properly can set you apart as a writer and add so much more depth to your story.
Hair is made up of a multi-layered structure that extends from the epidermis. This is known as the hair shaft, and it is primarily composed of dead keratinized cells encased in a protective cuticle. A person’s hair texture – straight, wavy or curly – is determined by the shape of this structure and its constituent parts. The medulla, a region of mitotically active basal cells at the base of the hair follicle, is also part of the hair.
The hair follicle sits below the surface of the skin and extends down to where blood vessels feed it. The follicle is protected by a layer of the skin called the dermis, and it has a sebaceous gland that produces oil, which helps nourish and protect the hair.
As the hair grows, it enters a phase called anagen, during which cell division in the root of the hair is active and it is fed by blood vessels that branch from the follicle at the scalp. This phase can last for years for the hairs on a person’s head and for shorter periods of time for other body hair.
Once the hair reaches the dermis, it stops growing and enters a resting phase known as catagen. Here the follicle is still nourished by the blood vessels in the follicle at the scalp, but they have slowed down to a trickle. The hair may become brittle and fall out, or it may begin to gray.
There are other factors that can affect how a person’s hair looks, such as their genes, diet, stress levels and health. It can even be influenced by the way they sleep, eat and exercise. For example, a person who eats a high protein diet will likely have thicker, darker hair than someone who eats a low-protein diet. In addition, a person who exercises often, eats well and avoids processed foods will have healthier looking hair than someone who eats junk food. The same is true for the types of shampoo and conditioner they use. Some people will find that certain products work best on their hair, while others may need to experiment with different ones to get the look they want. For example, someone with thick hair might need a rich, moisturizing product like argan oil to help smooth it. On the other hand, someone with thin or fine hair might need a volumizing formula to add some volume. The hair accessories a person wears, such as hats and scarves, can have a significant effect on how their hair looks as well.