Hair is a dead appendage or outgrowth of skin. It is comprised of two parts, the hair root or follicle and the hair shaft. The hair shaft is composed of a protein called keratin which is produced by the hair follicle situated deep within the skin. The total number of hairs a person has is genetically predetermined and these hairs are present long before he/she is born. Therefore, hair is a precious commodity. Once lost by some scarring process, it is not possible to regenerate new hair.
Hair grows in cycles to a genetically predetermined length. This is why eyelashes do not grow beyond a certain length. Scalp hair, on the other hand, can grow to great lengths if taken care of very well. The composition of hair is pretty constant, but its thickness, density, strength, texture and colour are variable between individuals.
What makes hair so special, i.e. physiology, biology and chemistry will be looked at in the upcoming weeks.
