Hair 101

The more you know about your hair, the better you can care for it! Your hair has two separate parts: the root and the shaft. The root is the part of the hair located just under the skin surface. The hair follicle houses the entire hair root. The papilla is where all of the action takes place; it is a rich blood and nerve supply that nourishes the hair shaft and produces hair cells. The bulb is a white sack located on the lower part of the hair that covers the papilla.

The hair shaft is what is grows out of the hair follicle and is what we consider to be hair. It has three parts; the cuticle, cortex and medulla.

The outer layer of your hair shaft is called the cuticle, which holds your hair together. The cells or scales that make up the cuticle layer overlap similarly to the scales on a fish or the shingles on a roof. In healthy hair, the cuticle scales lay flat. In damaged hair, the scales may be missing or broken. (

The cuticle layer is your hair's armor; it protects the heart, or the cortex, the layer beneath the cuticle. It is made of long, molecular chains of amino acids (protein) and is the largest section of your hair.

Chemical straighteners must penetrate through the cuticle to access the cortex, where shape and color changes take place.

Hair is made of dead keratin (protein) cells that are pushed up through the scalp at an average rate of about one-half inch per month for six inches of hair growth each year.

Keep your hair healthy by eating well, frequent conditioning and gentle treatment.

About The Author

Nicole Elizabeth Smith, the author of "Healthy Black Hair" (2003), is a freelance health and beauty writer and a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her son Zack live in Michigan. Currently, she is beauty editor for www.myhairbook.com.

nicole@myhairbook.com

---

You Need To Know The Possible Hair Loss Causes

Hair loss causes range from simple to complex. Some of... Read More

Chinese Medicine for Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is considered to be an auto-immune condition in... Read More

The Causes of Hair Loss

Very few people, especially those suffering from alopecia, or balding,... Read More

A Guide to Hair Loss Products

Hair loss is a genetic/hormonal process that can affect both... Read More

Hair Loss: Getting to the Root of the Problem

It's fair to say when you started losing your hair... Read More

Body Hair Removal: Solutions for Today

As we as a race become increasingly conscious of the... Read More

Six Causes of Hair Loss In Women

Six Causes of Hair Loss In Women are:#1. Hair loss... Read More

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Fact: There is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair... Read More

Develop A Strategy For Dealing With Premature Hair Loss

The fact you are reading this probably indicates you have... Read More

Everything You Wanted To Know About Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is the best available method for hair... Read More

Dont Lose Hair Because Of Poor Grooming

One of the most common reasons why men and women... Read More

Laser Hair Removal Tips

So you have decided to immerse yourself in the fantasy... Read More

Stop Hair Loss!

Are you losing more than 20-100 strands of hairs a... Read More

Removing Pubic Hair Methods

Shaving is the most common removing pubic hair method. However,... Read More

Dont Let Dandruff Stop You Wearing Black Dress

Dandruff is one of those conditions that is infinitely more... Read More

Use A Home Remedy As A Hair Loss Cure

Although most doctors will tell you there is no such... Read More

What Are The Common Hair Loss Causes?

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment... Read More

Female Hair Loss

Some of the "legends" I have heard over the years... Read More

Hair Loss Treatments

The desire to avoid hair loss is not confined to... Read More

Everything You Wanted To Know About Hair

In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is necessary... Read More

Coping With Male Pattern Baldness

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is by far the most... Read More

Womens Hair Loss ? What Should You Do?

Womens hair loss is almost as common as mens, and... Read More

Hair Loss: Know The Cause, Know The Cure

Don't you envy those young men in the streets with... Read More

Do You Know These Facts About Hair Loss?

The causes of hair loss are plenty including diseases, nutritional... Read More

The Truth About Hair Loss

Male Pattern BaldnessOn average, there are 90,000 to 150,000 hairs... Read More

Laser Hair Removal Frequently Asked Questions

There is such excitement in this cutting edge technology for... Read More

A Guide to Female Hair Loss

Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a... Read More

Hair Removal Does It Get Better Than Tweezers and Wax?

There are several accepted methods of hair removal but many... Read More

Vitamins that May Affect Hair Growth

Several different vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause dry hair.... Read More

Find Out The Causes Of Sudden Hair Loss

Two of the leading causes of sudden hair loss are... Read More

Why Don?t We Hear So Much About Female Baldness?

Female baldness is not as common as male baldness, which... Read More

What! Female Hair Loss Treatments!

Many people think that hair loss is a male problem,... Read More

The Main Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

When you think of hair loss it's natural to assume... Read More