Hair is a long, thick filament that grows from follicles in your skin. It isn’t just a part of your body that makes you look unique and distinct; it serves many important functions, including thermal regulation, camouflage, and communication. Some animals, such as polar bears and other mammals with white fur, use their hair to stay warm in the cold. Other animals, like giraffes and camels, use their hair to communicate with other members of their species, while some use it as a means of self-defence.
A hair is a protein filament that’s surrounded by a thin, durable outer layer called the cuticle. It protects the hair strand from damage and gives it shine and luster. Behind the cuticle is a middle layer called the cortex, and it’s where all of the color and texture live. The cortex consists of long proteins that twist and coil, much like the wires in a telephone cord. Each coiled protein is coated in pigments, giving the hair its natural color. The hair strand is also elastic, meaning that it can stretch before breaking. This is because it contains a substance called keratin, which is the same stuff that rhinoceros horns are made of.
Hair comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and it can even be shaped and styled into all sorts of different haircuts. This versatility gives it a unique ability to express individuality and personality. Whether it’s straight, wavy, curly, or crimped, there is almost certainly a cut that will suit every person and taste.
How hair is shaped depends on the type of follicle it comes from, the genes it has, and the environment in which it lives. It’s a good idea to get familiar with your hair type, which is usually described as a number and a letter (type 1, type 2, type 3, etc). The number describes the curl pattern of your hair while the letter describes its texture.
Generally speaking, most people with type 1A hair have pin-straight hair that is very fine and silky smooth. People with type 1B have a bit of a wave in their hair. Those with type 1C have medium-to-thick, soft waves in their hair.
While it’s commonly said that your hair is “made” of a protein called keratin, this is actually a simplification. What’s really happening is that the dead cells that make up your hair are being filled with a type of protein called keratin. This process is known as keratinization, and it’s what gives your hair its shape.
The hair follicle is in the shape of a tiny cylinder with a rounded bottom and an opening at the top. Tiny blood vessels supply the follicle with nutrients so that it can continue to grow. As the follicle grows, it pushes its cells out through the opening in the skin’s surface as your hair shaft. The dead cells at the end of your hair aren’t alive anymore, so they aren’t able to absorb nutrients.