Hair is a major part of one’s appearance and often defines one’s style, whether it’s straight or curly, short or long. It’s also a symbol of health, attractiveness and youth for women, and virility for men. Considering the role that hair plays, it’s no wonder that writers use it as a tool to describe characters and build empathy with their readers.
For this reason, it’s important to know the correct words and definitions when writing about a person’s hair. A good hair description can set a scene and create the right feel for a story. But it can also confuse the reader if the words are used incorrectly or in an unfamiliar way. So, we’ve compiled this list of hair terms to help you when writing.
A strand of hair is composed of keratin, which is a protein. Keratin is in the shape of a helix and can be found all over the body. In fact, there is a little keratin on the surface of your eyes and nose as well! Hair grows out of follicles, which are tiny pores in the skin or scalp. The follicles have a small bulb in the center that is responsible for growing new hair cells. These living cells are fed by capillaries that enter the follicles from the dermal papilla.
Each follicle has a different shape and can produce different types of hair. For example, a follicle with a round shape will produce straight hair, while a follicle with an oval or other shape will produce wavy or curly hair. Hair follicles are located in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis), and they have a natural lubricating oil called sebum. The sebum is produced by glands at the base of each hair follicle.
The hair follicles go through three growth phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. During the anagen phase, the hair follicles produce new hair cells at a rate of about 0.30 mm per day. This lasts about two to six years. When the hair reaches the end of its anagen phase, it begins to move into the catagen phase. During the catagen phase, the hair follicle shrinks and eventually stops producing hair. This is when the hair becomes thin and brittle.
At the end of the catagen phase, the follicle becomes resting and produces new hair at a much slower rate. After a period of time, the follicle grows back to its original size. Then the cycle starts over again!
The proteins in our hair are unique to each individual, like fingerprints or DNA. This makes hair an invaluable forensic tool for law enforcement and other professionals. It can even give a clue to an individual’s ethnicity or birthplace. Hair isn’t just for fashion, though; it also serves practical purposes such as shedding dust or protecting the skin from sun damage. For all these reasons, it’s important to take good care of our hair and use it as a tool to express ourselves!