Hair care

Hair Care

The Structure of Hair

Like skin, hair too, is a complex cellular structure made up of a special kind of protein known as Keratin.

Each strand of hair has two parts

The Hair Follicle, which is embedded in the scalp.

The Hair Shaft, which is the visible part of your hair.

The hair shaft which is made up of dead cells, has three layers

1. The Medulla, the soft, innermost layer.

2. The Cortex (surrounding the Medulla), which gives hair its thickness, strength and flexibility. It also contains Melanin - the pigment which determines hair colour.

3. The Cuticle, the outermost protective layer. This is a transparent layer of tiny overlapping scales made of Keratin. It acts as a protective barrier against chemicals and also prevents excessive evaporation of the moisture essential for soft, supple hair.

The hair follicle is divided anatomically into: the Infundibulum the Isthmus the Inferior segment, which contains the hair bulb

The hair follicle is situated during active growth, in, or just above, the subcutaneous fat at core temperature. It is protected from any deleterious effects of materials on the scalp. Only severe scarring or systematic factors interfere with hair growth.

How Long Does A Single Hair Live?

Each hair grows from a root. The cells in the hair bulb divide, creating a new hair that will grow and eventually fall out.

This cycle, which is known as the pilar cycle, is divided into three phases: the hair grows for an average of three years, a brief stagnation period of two or three weeks follows, then the hair is discarded over about three months. After a latent period of two to five months, a new cycle begins and a new hair starts to grow. The entire process happens about 25 times in the course of a lifetime.