The general structure of the hair is a rather interesting question, since not all people know about it. But the shape and color of the hair depends on it. Features of the structure of hair need to be known not only to specialists in this field, but also to other members of society. The article will answer all your questions and let you know some amazing facts.
What is hair
Before dealing with the structure of human hair, it is necessary to give the concept of this adnexal component of the skin. The follicle is a root that combines with connective tissues, resulting in the formation of a single complex. Each person is born with a certain number of hair follicles, which is simply impossible to change.
There is a "hair nipple" in the structure of the integument of the head. This is where the blood vessels are located. It is one of the elements of connective tissue and plays an important role in hair growth.
Any hair follicle is self-sufficient and independenteducation, which is characterized by an individual process of development and growth. The successive cycles where the lock is changed differ from each other, which is why the renewal period of our hair passes almost imperceptibly.
Why are they needed
The structure of skin and hair is interesting to people for the simple reason that these covers perform important functions. The purpose of the skin is known to everyone, but not everyone knows about the second element.
As you know, hair covers the entire body, except for the palms and soles of the feet. They protect the skin and the entire body from the adverse effects of the environment.
Varieties
A rather curious question is the structure of hair and nails, because both of these elements are replaced throughout life. The latter grow quite quickly and noticeably, which cannot be said about the former. Hair growth is directly dependent on various factors.
When the fetus is inside the womb, its body is completely covered with light fluff. From the moment of birth until the age of two, this cover begins to replace the hair, spreading over the entire body and limbs. Their density and color may vary.
Adult people can have only three types of hairs:
- cannon - their length is no more than 1.5 mm, they cover the entire body;
- bristly - they are eyebrows and eyelashes;
- terminal (long) - grow on the head, beard, and genitals.
Exterior structure
Finally, it's time to find out what kind of externalhair structure. Its chemical composition contains water, keratin protein, as well as residual traces of minerals and vitamins that are directly involved in metabolic skin processes.
The hair itself is not as whole as many people think it is. In fact, it consists of a huge number of small horny plates. It has a root, which is located in a capsule - the so-called hair follicle, defined under the skin.
Hair shaft
Considering the structure of the hair, along with the capsule, you should also learn about the rod - this is exactly what is visible on the surface. It has a three-layer structure:
- Medulla. It is the basis of the rod and is absent only in cannon. It contains soft cells mixed with air bubbles, which later become keratinized. It is this layer that is responsible for thermal conductivity. At the same time, any chemical participation is completely excluded here.
- Cortex. This is the basis of the hair, which occupies about 80% of the total volume. This layer consists of a large number of keratin fibers intertwined with each other. They are often compared to a thread, which consists of thin components. Such fibers are woven into spirals and make up the cortical stratum corneum.
- Cuticle. The outer layer is required to perform a protective function. It consists of several layers lying on top of each other like wood rings. If you look at it through a magnifying device, you can see something similar to a pine cone. Cuticle scales are in proportion to growthhair, starting from the root. They consist of nitrogen, sulfur and amino acids. If the hairline is he althy, then the scales fit quite tightly, providing softness, but due to improper care, they bristle, creating a not very aesthetic appearance.
Internal structure
Oddly enough, but the internal structure of the hair can not be called less complex. Here an important role is played by the follicle, which is a bag of epithelial and connective skin. Inside it is the root, that is, the ducts of the sebaceous and sweat glands, and the bulb.
On top of the skin, the root is visible in the form of a small expansion. On the top of the bulb is a small papilla, which is responsible for the nutrition, development and growth of the hair.
As for the middle and outer layers, they are composed of elastic fibers and collagen bundles. The so-called argentophiles adhere to the skin and are needed for the membrane surrounding the capsule. Just above the bulb is a thin layer, which is designed to refract light. It is responsible for the shine, which is directly dependent on the natural processes of the formation of a fatty lubricant, consisting of an antiseptic created to combat foreign microorganisms. In the epithelial, the process of cell division takes place, as well as their change, which determines the rate of hair growth.
At the point of contact between the skin and the hairline are smooth muscles that look very much like a ribbon. They are attached to the skin by means of a short tendon. When the muscle contracts, it presses on the gland, thethereby contributing to the raising of the hair, where the secret gets. Every person has experienced such a process, because when you feel fear, the hairs always stand on end.
How they grow
Having learned about the structure and functions of hair, you should understand how they grow. This process consists of only three stages:
- Anagen (2-5 years). Here, in the area of the follicle, active growth occurs. At this time, prerequisites are created for accelerated cell division and an increase in hair length. When a person is he althy, about 85% of the hairline is of this age.
- Katagen (half a month - 20 days). During this period, the function of the follicle is already less active. He is slowly torn away from the papilla, which feeds on. At this stage, there is only 1% of the hair on the entire body.
- Telogen (3-4 months). During this period of time, cell division stops, and the hair falls out along with the bulb. In the vacated place, another hair begins to grow, which gradually breaks through the skin and performs all the same functions as the previous one.
Types
Each person has a different type of integument, even regardless of the fact that they have a similar hair structure. Hairdressing consists in knowing the subtleties when choosing a haircut and hairstyle, because this phenomenon is explained by the individual characteristics of the body, as well as various external factors. Today, the following types of hair are distinguished:
- Normal. It reflects light well, has elasticity and has no cross-sectional traces. Outwardly, such hair looks like an imagein a glossy magazine. Just one combing is enough for them to retain their shape for a long time. Plus, they don't need to be washed too often.
- Dry. Quite faded and brittle hairs look painful and look like overdried grass. To improve their condition, experts recommend using professional formulations that are suitable for just such a hair.
- Bold. This type has a huge amount of allocated secret. The reasons for this can be a genetic predisposition, as well as malnutrition. Oily hair tends to become dull and unkempt fairly quickly, so it needs to be washed frequently.
- Mixed. It is more inherent in the owners of long hair. Closer to the roots, they are oily, and towards the tips, they are brittle. This is explained precisely by the length, since the secreted fat simply cannot be enough for even distribution to the very ends.
Color
People who know the structure of the hair of the head can explain why the hair has a particular color. For others, this information is unknown, so you need to deal with it in more detail.
Under the skin, not far from the follicle, there is a pigment responsible for the tone of the hairs. They are melanin. It consists of nitrogen, iron, and arsenic. Experts divide this element into pheo- and eumelanin. In composition, they are quite similar to each other, but the only difference is considered to be a different shape and color sets. The first looks like an elongated granule, and the second resembles an oval.
Eumelanin is a brown dye. It consists of as many as three shades - yellow, red and blue. As for pheomelanin, it is a deep yellow.
Both compounds are present in all hair. They are responsible for the color of the hair. Since ancient times, people believed that in nature there are only three options - red, blond and black. But over time, when it became known about the predominance of one over the other, experts began to talk about many possible shades. It is for this reason that on the street you can meet a person with a unique hair color.
As you know, gray hair appears not only in old people, but also in some young people. This happens due to the excessive amount of air capsules that come from the follicle. In this case, the hair is not able to dye naturally, so it becomes gray.
A few facts
In hairdressing, the structure of the hair and its features are important nuances, so every specialist should know them. This can be learned in specialized schools or courses where only basic information is provided, but nothing is said about interesting facts noticed by scientists over a long period of time:
- women's hair is thinner than men's;
- growth rate is affected by length;
- Red hair is the hardest to color.
This knowledge will help hairdressers understand their business faster and better and ensure themselves stableearnings.
