Understanding hair structure
Each hair has a hair shaft and a hair root. The shaft is the visible part of the hair that sticks out of the skin. The root of the hair is in the skin and extends to the deeper layers of the skin. It is surrounded by a hair follicle (a covering of skin and connective tissue), which is also connected to a sebaceous gland.
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Structure of hair
In order to understand how hair is constructed, it is important to understand the many layers and components.
Hair, nails and skin’s outer layer are made of the hard protein keratin that is responsible for their strength and durability. There are many chains of amino acids that make up keratin, and each chain is linked to the next one.
Hair Root
The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. Indentation in the epidermis is the source of each hair follicle’s growth. There are two components to hair: follicles and shafts.
Body of hair follicles
Where does hair come from? The hair comes from the root, which is called the hair follicle.
- In the human body, a hair bulb is the last component of a hair follicle that grows into the skin.
- Actively proliferating cells produce the structure of the hair bulb.
- Fibrils of long, fine diameter and cylindrical form are produced by these cells.
- Dedicated cells in the hair bulb are responsible for producing the pigments that give hair its distinctive shade of brown.
- The pigment is called melanin, and the cells that make it are called melanocytes.
- In this arrangement, the cells have androgen receptors, which receive male hormones.
- The dermal papilla, which receives sustenance from the circulation, is located at the base of the hair bulb and offers the necessary nutrients for the growth of new hairs.
- There are two types of root sheaths covering hair follicles: internal and exterior.
- The hair follicle’s epidermis and the outer roots are both in a constant state of growth cycle.
- The glands that are located next to the hair follicles are also located nearby.
- Natural oils for hair lubrication are produced and released by the sebaceous gland, which is one of these glands that must not be overlooked.
Hair shaft (hair base)
The hair shaft refers to the portion of the hair that is visible above the surface of the scalp.
- Dead cells that have been transformed into keratin and binding material, as well as trace quantities of water, make up the hair shaft.
- There is no discomfort because of this construction.
- Three layers make up the hair shaft.
- Large, dense hairs have a medulla, the innermost part of the hair shaft.
- Fibers’ strength, colour, and texture are all derived from a layer of the hair shaft known as the cortex.
- Skin-thin and colourless hair shafts are protected by the cuticle. The cortex is protected by this layer.
