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The Structure of Your Hair

by British Curlies

The follicle resembles a stocking like structure that has several layers with different functions. The base of the follicle is called the papilla the living part of the hair is the bottom part of the papilla which is called the bulb. The bulb is fed by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The follicle itself has an inner and an outer sheath, which protects and moulds the growing hair shaft. The inner sheath ends below the opening of the sebaceous gland which produces the natural conditioner called sebum. The outer sheath goes all the way up to the sebaceous gland.

 The shaft is made up of keratin, which is dead, hard protein. The keratin has three layers, medulla, cortex and cuticle. The cortex is what makes up most of the shaft. The cuticle has a structure similar to roof shingles, which is tightly packed scales that overlap. This is the part of the hair that conditioning products attempt to affect. The cortex and medulla contain pigment cells which give the hair its colour.

 The actual shape of the hair is what determines if the hair is curly or straight. Hair that is most circular is straight and hair that is flattened and elliptical is curly or kinky. The more elliptical the shaft is the curlier the hair is. This shape also determines how shiny the hair is. Straighter hair is shinier because the sebum can travel down the shaft easier. The kinkier the hair the harder the sebum has travelling. This explains why kinky hair is usually dull or dry looking. The thickness of the hair is determined by how many follicles are lined on the scalp.

 There seem to be different theories about why some people have thick, thin, straight or curly hair. Studies support the notion that depending on where your ancestors lived determines what type of hair you have. Other studies seem to point to the direction of whether a gene is responsible for your hair type. Geneticists may have more answers about this in the future.