Hair 101

The more you know about your hair, the better you can care for it! Your hair has two separate parts: the root and the shaft. The root is the part of the hair located just under the skin surface. The hair follicle houses the entire hair root. The papilla is where all of the action takes place; it is a rich blood and nerve supply that nourishes the hair shaft and produces hair cells. The bulb is a white sack located on the lower part of the hair that covers the papilla.

The hair shaft is what is grows out of the hair follicle and is what we consider to be hair. It has three parts; the cuticle, cortex and medulla.

The outer layer of your hair shaft is called the cuticle, which holds your hair together. The cells or scales that make up the cuticle layer overlap similarly to the scales on a fish or the shingles on a roof. In healthy hair, the cuticle scales lay flat. In damaged hair, the scales may be missing or broken. (

The cuticle layer is your hair's armor; it protects the heart, or the cortex, the layer beneath the cuticle. It is made of long, molecular chains of amino acids (protein) and is the largest section of your hair.

Chemical straighteners must penetrate through the cuticle to access the cortex, where shape and color changes take place.

Hair is made of dead keratin (protein) cells that are pushed up through the scalp at an average rate of about one-half inch per month for six inches of hair growth each year.

Keep your hair healthy by eating well, frequent conditioning and gentle treatment.

About The Author

Nicole Elizabeth Smith, the author of "Healthy Black Hair" (2003), is a freelance health and beauty writer and a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her son Zack live in Michigan. Currently, she is beauty editor for www.myhairbook.com.

nicole@myhairbook.com

MORE RESOURCES:

Reasons for Female Hair Loss and their Possible Treatments - PWO

New Genetic Hair Loss Breakthrough - UKMedix Health News

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/culprit_gene_behind_childhood_baldness_found-86119973.htmlcid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGf2TdYqe8kKKTnhsQMMVtyTFX7Uwimg src=http://nt0.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=MBHBn-EdDn0Jimgurl=www.themedguru.com/files/baldness222.jpg width=53 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2TheMedGuru/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.ukmedix.com/hair-loss/new_genetic_hair_loss_breakthrough4343.cfmcid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNFVGPCBSphVNWzSgL9WwDSj1NhA3gNew Genetic bHair Loss/b Breakthrough/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fUKMedix Health News,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrJan 5, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The big thing in the world of bhair loss/b research at the moment is genes. Scientists have the located a number of genetic structures which appear in men and b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-1fd=Rurl=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html%3FHair_loss_hope_as_key_chemical_found%26in_article_id%3D458166%26in_page_id%3D34%26in_a_source%3Dcid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNFRStxWZFOQKhZQAoeCg3yHbpXuogbHair loss/b hope as key chemical found/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMetro/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-2fd=Rurl=http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22526/1066/cid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNFDj_CfpoHf6WZ-v0mTl6laYXCFjAPossible cure for premature baldness is beautiful/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobriTWire/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-3fd=Rurl=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/culprit_gene_behind_childhood_baldness_found-86119973.htmlcid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGf2TdYqe8kKKTnhsQMMVtyTFX7UwCulprit gene behind childhood baldness found/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTheMedGuru/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-4fd=Rurl=http://news.scotsman.com/health/New-study-brings-cure-for.4842266.jpcid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGiak7MOEu0vR9404u5cC1iBjsTiQnobrScotsman/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-5fd=Rurl=http://www.news-medical.net/%3Fid%3D44613cid=1287000002ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGGmDm07PhICcrwR9LvTUZz-Li1JQnobrNews-Medical.net/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287000002hl=ennobrall 30 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Hair Loss Treatments: If You’re Too Young To Look Old - PWO

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.potterworldonline.com/hair-loss/0,9317,352922,00.htmlcid=1287235898ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNEg7Ub1HX_-RZRp3vVHc4pY-6F0ywbHair Loss/b Treatments: If You’re Too Young To Look Old/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPWO,nbsp;Francenbsp;-/font nobrJan 5, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1And for some people, bhair loss/b can begin even earlier, although in those cases and underlying disease or stress may be responsible. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-1fd=Rurl=http://www.potterworldonline.com/hair-loss/0,9317,377693,00.htmlcid=1287235898ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGXZLTxjJnr-beomgdEintZW-vsLgProficient and Commanding: FDA Approved bHair Loss/b Treatment/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPWO/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287235898hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Hair Loss Treatment for Man: Enumerating the Different Options - Meadow Free Press

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.meadowfreepress.com/hair-loss/0,1873,364459,00.htmlcid=1286401876ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNFgs2nIrzL_awZy8YD_WgGPQ-jZtAbHair Loss/b Treatment for Man: Enumerating the Different Options/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMeadow Free Press,nbsp;IDnbsp;-/font nobrJan 1, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Since the cause of male pattern baldness is caused by a rise in DHT, the most effective bhair loss/b treatment for man is the one with that focuses on blocking b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-1fd=Rurl=http://www.potterworldonline.com/hair-loss/0,9317,318118,00.htmlcid=1286401876ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNEF57PGTFG6w5tNqL6DR4QgMpy_LgFinding the Right bHair Loss/b Product/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrPWO/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1286401876hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Mane concern - AsiaOne

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Women%252527s%252BMatters/Cancer%252BCentre/Story/A1Story20090105-112398.htmlcid=1287381187ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGKmEsa9MSdK3Ku8LTHZ803y6v_hAimg src=http://nt2.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=tpyqyvrlmzQJimgurl=health.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/health/01Jan09/images/20090105.134635_cancer-hair.jpg width=80 height=40 alt= border=1brfont size=-2AsiaOne/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Women%252527s%252BMatters/Cancer%252BCentre/Story/A1Story20090105-112398.htmlcid=1287381187ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGKmEsa9MSdK3Ku8LTHZ803y6v_hAMane concern/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAsiaOne,nbsp;Singaporenbsp;-/font nobrJan 4, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1#39;You won#39;t even lose your hair because we have some chemotherapy drugs that do not cause bhair loss/b,quot; I finally said. Only then did Madam Loh, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Hair Loss for Men not a Major Problem Anymore - Meadow Free Press

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.meadowfreepress.com/hair-loss/0,1873,455105,00.htmlcid=1285678495ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNFXT9IE1YVdATBoGJjhtwZb4Ha4QwbHair Loss/b for Men not a Major Problem Anymore/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMeadow Free Press,nbsp;IDnbsp;-/font nobrDec 30, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1There are several reasons why people suffer from bhair loss/b. According to studies, men are more prone to bhair loss/b as compared to women. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-1fd=Rurl=http://www.meadowfreepress.com/hair-loss/0,1873,364142,00.htmlcid=1285678495ei=Tr1jSbnVA5GQmAfT7P3oAwusg=AFQjCNGSX1vV_TtAbzyjWWbgJr7ODGC6SgThe Possible Role Of Advecia In The Prevention Of bHair Loss/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMeadow Free Press/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1285678495hl=ennobrall 2 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Different Types of Natural Cure for Hair Loss - PWO

Helping those with hair loss Helping those with hair loss - Bellevue Reporter

In Taiwan more women than men suffering hair loss: doctors - eTaiwan News

Hair loss rooted in Britney Spears-type extensions: scalp expert - CBC.ca

Hair-Loss - Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

Hair Loss Solutions - How to Help Stop Hair Loss and Regrow Hair
Hair loss and male-pattern baldness is an affliction suffered by thousands of men, and can be a real source of insecurity and embarrassment for those not ready to lose their hair or shave their head. Even worse, and more devastating are the younger cases where the hair loss process begins long before a man even reaches his thirtieth birthday.

Laser Hair Removal Frequently Asked Questions
There is such excitement in this cutting edge technology for laser hair removal. In order to decide if you want to use laser hair removal, you can check online for research and then you would need a doctor consultation.

Laser Hair Removal: Am I a Good Candidate? What Do I Need to Know?
How Laser Hair Removal worksA laser emits an invisible beam that penetrates the skin around the hair. Because of the dark pigments in the hair, the energy from the laser is absorbed into the hair.

Body Hair Removal: Solutions for Today
As we as a race become increasingly conscious of the way others look at us and not just the way, we look at ourselves, personal grooming has never been more important. And top of the list for many men and women today is to gain a superior attractive quality by getting rid of unwanted body hair.

Hair Loss and Its Effects
There is nothing about hair loss that is okay. In fact, there is nothing about it that is good.

Diet, Nutrition and Hair Loss
One key factor in maintaining a growing protein on a part of one's biological body is obvious: one must maintain a healthy diet. Although certain factors have been definitely identified as contributors to hair loss, we must keep in mind that hair is part of the complete biological system of the human body.

Follicular Unit Extraction vs. Older Methods of Hair Transplantation
Punch grafts, scalp reductions, scalp extensions..

Hair Transplantation: A Great Option for Dealing with Hair Loss
Hair Loss is an issue troubling many males and females regardless of age. Hair transplants is one method for dealing with hair loss.

Stop Hair Loss!
Are you losing more than 20-100 strands of hairs a day? If your answer is yes; you are part of 50 percent of the population experiencing hair loss, but before you get alarmed there are some changes in your body either conscious or unconscious that maybe causing your hair to shed. Did you make a change in your diet, Are you eating enough proteins and amino acids, Is your body going trough a hormonal change (postpartum, thyroid), Anemia, stress, medications etc.

Causes of Hair Loss
The normal cycle of hair growth and loss means that some amount of hair loss will occur in every individual's life. It is said that at any given point in time, about 10% of the hair on our scalp is in a resting phase which sheds after a couple of months, giving way to new hair growth.

Alopecia Areata and Hair loss: What Does Aloe Vera Have to Do with It
A disease of unknown cause in which well-defined bald patches occur, usually on the head and other hairy parts of the body. The condition typically clears without treatment; recurrences are common.

A Look at Male Hair Loss
At a research study held in a university in Norfolk, Virginia, it was found that 84 percent of men suffering from hair loss were preoccupied with the loss. They described feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, and jealousy of men with full, healthy heads of hair.

Non-Approved Drugs That Can Help Hair Loss
At present only two medications have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss, namely finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine). While both of these continue to prove their worth to many patients, some individuals are disappointed with their results and seek other forms of treatment.

Coping With Male Pattern Baldness
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is by far the most common cause of hair loss amongst men and a serious problem for many women. For it to develop, three important components must come into play: 1.

A Guide to Female Hair Loss
Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a consequence, biological events like puberty, pregnancy and menopause that effect female hormone levels can also cause female hair loss.

Laser Hair Treatment - 10 Things You Must Know About Getting A Good Laser Hair Removal Service
Laser hair removal is supposed to be a safe process, yet dubious claims and inappropriate equipment still lead to scams and injuries. Consumers themselves must know the ins and outs of laser hair removal to prevent themselves from getting cheated.

Womens Hair Loss
The hair care industry is a billion dollar industry. "A perm, relaxer or color ranges in price from $65 to over $100 and most women get their hair retouched every 2-3 months.

Do You Know About These Remedies for Hair Loss?
Millions of the people worldwide suffer from hair loss andthis is the reason why hair loss remedies are a billiondollar industry.The answer to the million-dollar question of how to gethair back is to know how you lost it in the first place.

Hair Loss In Women - A Devastating Occurrence
Hair loss is widely accepted as a man's problem and it is quite common to see bald men. However, hair loss in women is just as common, but it is more devastating for the individual when it does happen.

Natural Hair Loss Remedies
There is again no sure-fire way to prevent all hair loss;however, there are some methods that have been used that work onsome people.Massage and aromatherapy have been used with somesuccess.