Some information about hair!

Hair is made up of a protein called keratin and is found on the scalp, as well as on other parts of the body. The structure of hair consists of three layers: the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer and is made up of overlapping cells that protect the hair shaft. The cortex is the middle layer and contains keratin fibres and pigments that give hair its colour. The medulla is the innermost layer and is not present in all hairs.

Hair grows from follicles, which are small openings in the skin. The hair shaft, which is the visible part of the hair, emerges from the follicle. The base of the follicle is called the root, and it is here that the hair is nourished by blood vessels.

Hair grows in cycles, with each cycle consisting of three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. During the anagen phase, the hair is actively growing. This phase can last for several years. The catagen phase is a transitional phase in which the hair stops growing and the follicle shrinks. The telogen phase is the resting phase, during which the hair does not grow. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

Hair colour is determined by the amount and type of pigments present in the hair. The primary pigment found in hair is called eumelanin, which is responsible for black and brown hair. The secondary pigment is called pheomelanin, which is responsible for red and blond hair. The relative proportions of these pigments determine the final hair colour.

Hair can be damaged by a variety of factors, including heat, chemicals, and physical trauma. Damage to the hair shaft can lead to split ends, breakage, and frizz. Proper hair care, including using a conditioner and avoiding heat styling and chemical treatments, can help to prevent hair damage.

Here are a few random facts about hair:

1. The average person has about 100,000 hairs on their head.

2. Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body.

3. Hair grows about half an inch (1.25 cm) per month on average.

4. The longest recorded hair length is 5.6 metres (18.5 feet) long, which was achieved by a woman in China.

5. Hair can be used to determine a person's age, sex, and ethnicity.

6. Humans are the only animals with hairs on their head that grow as long as they do.

7. The hair on your head is about 3 times stronger than steel of the same thickness.

8. Hair is made up of about 97% protein and 3% water.

9. Redheads have the rarest hair colour, with only about 2% of the world's population having red hair.

10. Hair can be damaged by exposure to UV radiation, chlorine, and salt water.