[*] Hair Structure & Hair Life Cycle
Hair is composed of strong structural protein called keratin. This is the same kind of protein that makes up the nails and the outer layer of skin.
Each strand of hair consists of three layers.
- An innermost layer or medulla which is only present in large thick hairs.
- The middle layer known as the cortex. The cortex provides strength and both the color and the texture of hair.
- The outermost layer is known as the cuticle. The cuticle is thin and colorless and serves as a protector of the cortex.
[*] Hair Structure and Hair Chemistry
We will begin by defining the hair. Hair is composed primarily of proteins (88%). These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. Keratin protein is comprised of what we call "polypeptide chains.” The word, polypeptide, comes from the Greek word "poly" meaning many and "peptos" meaning digested or broken down. In essence, if we break down protein, we have individual amino acids. Many (poly) amino acids joined together form a "polypeptide chain"
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[*] Basic Structure of Hair
Hair can be defined as slender, thread-like outgrowth from follicles (opening in the skin through which a hair grows) in the skin of humans and animals. Composed mainly of keratin, it has three morphological regions - the cuticle, medulla, and cortex.
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