Hair anatomy

Hair is made of a tough protein called keratin. A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. In the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft

The Hair RootSimilar to a tree or a plant, there is more to a strand of hair than what you can actually see from above the scalp. Found below the skin, the hair root is contained in a tubelike structure called the hair follicle. New cells are created in the hair root. As they enlarge and divide, they are pushed up and out, causing visible hair growth. You may be surprised to know that once your hair is visible, it becomes dead tissue. In this respect, hair is similar to the tips of your fingernails The Hair Shaft  Each strand of hair has two main components: the hair shaft and the root. The shaft is formed from the old cells that are pushed out as a result of new cell growth in the root. By understanding the components which make up a strand of hair (and their functions), we can more easily treat and rejuvenate damaged areas. The parts of the hair are divided into three segments which include the cuticle, the cortex and the core. 1) The Cuticle: forming the outer layer, the cuticle is made up of hard, transparent cells that overlap each other like the scales of a fish. General hair condition is largely determined by the condition of the cuticle, since it is the layer giving elasticity and resiliency to the hair. 2) The Cortex: forming the middle layer, the cortex is protected by the cuticle and consists of rope-like protein fibres. If the cuticle is damaged, the cortex becomes exposed, allowing for moisture loss. When this happens the cortex unravels, causing split ends and damaged hair. 3) The Medulla, or the core, is the supporting structure for a strand of hair. It is interesting to note that the medulla can be absent or interrupted without weakening the hair strand