Simply about the complex: how hair is arranged

We see hair on a daily basis, but how often do we consider its composition or mechanism? The majority of us care about its appearance, whether it’s glossy, silky, or perfectly styled. However, the structure that gives our hair its strength, texture, and appearance is hidden beneath the surface and is quite fascinating.

Hair is fundamentally a complex system consisting of various layers and components, each of which has a distinct function. Every component, from the protective outer cuticle to the vibrant and robust inner cortex, serves a specific function. By knowing how these components interact, we can better take care of our hair and maintain its health and beauty.

We’ll dissect the fundamentals of hair arrangement in this post so you can understand what’s actually happening from root to tip. Everything you need is right here, whether you’re interested in learning more about the science underlying your strands or you just want to know how to keep them looking their best.

Aspect	Description
Hair Structure	Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, forming strands that grow from follicles in the skin.
Hair Growth	Hair grows in cycles, with each strand going through phases of growth, rest, and shedding.
Hair Layers	Each hair strand has three layers: the cuticle (outer layer), the cortex (middle layer), and the medulla (inner layer).
Hair Color	Melanin, a pigment in the cortex, determines hair color; different amounts and types of melanin create various shades.
Hair Texture	The shape of the hair follicle influences whether hair is straight, wavy, or curly.

Hair structure

With the exception of the lips, soles of the feet, and palms, hair is a horny skin formation that covers nearly the whole body. Hair is made up of keratin cells. Human hair is structured in a way that is similar to a tree, with the hair follicle serving as the "roots" and the hair shaft as the "trunk." Furthermore, the hair roots are the only living component of curls; living cells proliferate there at a rate that is enormously faster than in the shafts of hair that we wash, nourish, and moisturize. Let’s examine the structure in more detail.

Root

His root, which is located in a type of bag known as a hair follicle and is 3 mm deep in the dermis, is the portion of the hair that is invisible. Hair onion also refers to the widest area at the base of the hair.

The terms "root," "follicle," and "onion" are frequently used interchangeably when referring to hair so as to avoid confusion.

If you look at a photo of a hair follicle made through a microscope, we will see its shell. This Epithelial The root vagina – it performs a protective function and consists of the inner and outer layers. Inside the hair follicle is hidden Hair papilla – an education consisting of connective tissue and blood vessels through which beneficial nutrients enter the hair. Above the papilla is located The sprout, Cell division in which is actually responsible for hair growth. There, in the sprout part, there are cells that produce the pigment melanin – they determine hair color. Hair follicles are surrounded sebaceous and sweat glands, Creating a protective film on the surface of the skin – the latter does not allow contaminants to get into the mouths of the follicles (tiny holes in the skin for hair release). Each root has nerve endings and is equipped with its muscles – inside is hidden muscle, lifting the hair rod, due to which the hairstyle looks more or less voluminous. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that it will be possible to train this muscle.

Kernel

The visible part of the hair located above the skin level is its kernel. It is a “dead” part of the hair, as it consists of keratinized epidermal cells and does not eat from the inside. The structure of the hair rod is quite simple. If you look at it in the context, it is clear that it consists of three concentric layers – this is a honey, cortex and cuticle. The central part of the hair the rod is medulla, made of keratinized keratin cells and air bubbles. Not all human hair has a medulla: for example, it is absent in vellus hair, as well as at the ends of long hair. Thanks to the voids, the medulla has thermal conductivity and maintains a certain temperature regime. It is necessary to understand that the medulla does not interact with cosmetics in any way. The second layer of hair, which makes up to 80% of the volume of the shaft, is the cortex. Its fibers consist of two types of cortical cells – paracortical, which are present only in straight hair, and orthocortical, thanks to which the hair curls. In addition to the shape, the cortex is responsible for the elasticity and strength of the strands, as well as their color – the latter depends on the amount of melanin pigment and air bubbles in the cortex. The fragile cortex is reliably protected by the upper layer of the hair shaft – the cuticle. Its structure resembles a tiled roof and consists of an average of ten layers of keratin scales, tightly adjacent and overlapping. The space between the scales is filled with lipids (fatty acids), which, among other things, are responsible for the moisture content of the hair, sealing the moisture inside. With age, there are fewer lipids and cuticle scales, so the hair becomes thinner, stiffer and more brittle. It is at the level of the cortex that care products act. Unfortunately, globally damaged hair at the cortex level can only be cut off. But if you regularly restore the cuticle and achieve its smooth fit to the shaft, you can avoid encounters with scissors.

What hair consists of?

• 78–90% keratin,

• 6% lipids,

• up to 15% water,

• 1% pigment.

Sulfur, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, and even gold are among the chemical elements found in hair.

Hair types and features of hair care

Every girl who aspires to have the curls of her dreams should understand this important fact about hair in addition to the structure: this is their type. Together, let’s identify the characteristics of various hair types.

Normal hair type

It’s easy: healthy hair equates to normal hair. They have a lovely sheen, are elastic, robust, smooth, and clean for an extended period of time. For this type of hair, selecting the appropriate care regimen is sufficient to prevent and detect issues like split ends or porosity.

Shampoo Pro Longer, L’Oréal Professionnel; spray Miracle Creator, Matrix; and milk for thermal styling of fine hair, SteamPod, L’Oréal Professionnel are SalonSecret’s recommendations for normal hair.

Oily hair type

Excessive sebum production is the cause of oily hair and scalp. The excessive activity of sebaceous glands causes the hair to appear disheveled, greasy, matte, and unable to retain volume and style. Using improper makeup, over-combing, using extremely hot water to wash your hair, and blow-drying your hair a lot can all cause disruptions to the sebaceous glands. Additionally, genetics, hormonal imbalances, stress, and even poor nutrition are among the most frequent causes of increased oiliness in hair.

Products containing menthol, salicylic acid, fruit acids, mint, and other ingredients with cooling and antiseptic qualities are a true need for people with oily hair.

Energizing Cleanser, Kérastase

Kérastase Equilibrante Clay Mask

For oily hair, SalonSecret recommends the following products: shampoo Pure Resource by L’Oréal Professionnel; clay mask Equilibrante by Kérastase; dry shampoo Fresh Affair by Kérastase; scrub Energisant by Kérastase; ScalpSync by Biolage.

Dry hair type

The primary cause of dry hair is insufficient sebum production. This results in tangled strands, dry dandruff, tight scalp, dull curls, and a loss of suppleness and elasticity. An uncomfortable sensation can result from itching and peeling of the head.

Trichologists advise using professional tools with a moisturizing and nutritional composition to restore hair to its normal state.

Choose SalonSecret for dry hair, such as the food mask Masquintense from Kérastase, the serum All Soft Mega from Redken, the shampoo Moisture Me Rich from Matrix, and the mask that hydrates and soothes the scalp. Elevate Your Style, Kérastase.

Mixed hair type

Combination is another term for the mixed type of hair. Dry ends paired with an oily scalp are its defining characteristics. With such hair, it is very challenging to achieve a basal volume, and they will look very shocked and confused. In these situations, our experts advise applying deeply cleansing shampoos to the skin as well as nutrient-washed, permanent products to the lower strand of hair.

Keep in mind that applying oils and other heavy products directly to the scalp is not advised due to the increased fat content; instead, they should be applied sparingly to the ends.

For mixed hair, choose SalonSecret: oil Absolut Repair 10 in 1, L’Oréal Professionnel; sealing shampoo-vanna Volumifique, Kérastase; balancing shampoo-vannna Divalent, Kérastase; oil All Soft Argan-6, Redken.

Although hair appears straightforward at first glance, it actually has an intricate structure with layers that serve various purposes in protecting, nourishing, and imparting shine. Gaining an appreciation of the intricacy involved in hair’s daily appearance and maintenance can be facilitated by knowing how it is arranged, from the outer cuticle that protects it to the cortex that provides strength and color to the medulla at its core.

The main functions of the hair

The majority of people think that hair serves only aesthetic purposes. Naturally, having lustrous, thick hair has always been associated with beauty, health, and wellbeing; however, the hairline serves additional biological purposes.

• Firstly, Protective. Overheating, hypothermia, external mechanical effect – all this is prevented by the hair on the head.

• Secondly, Hair is an organ of touch. For example, eyelashes (more precisely, nerve endings in the skin around them) are very sensitive to external stimuli and launched reflexes that close their eyes.

• Third, Another important hair function is heat exchange regulation. They help the skin maintain its usual temperature at any time of the year. Which, of course, is not a reason to refuse panamas and hats. Still, the human body is not adapted to critically high and low temperatures.

What components have a positive effect on hair?

Trichologists and hairdressers advise using products that contain specific caring ingredients in order to maintain healthy hair. The following are some elements that are good for curls.

• Pro-keratin restores damage to the hair structure and retains moisture inside it.

Where should I search? Microscopic pro-keratin molecules added to the Biolage KeratinDose line pointwise repair damage to the cuticle’s surface and layers.

• Ceramides are lipids responsible for the integral structure and smoothness of hair.

Where should I search? Experts at SalonSecret advise using a restorative shampoo containing ceramides, such as Matrix So Long Damage, and other products in this range, for owners of porous hair that is brittle and damaged.

• Tocopherol (vitamin E) gives softness, protects from ultraviolet radiation and the action of free radicals that destroy the structure of the hair and its pigments.

Where should I search? Because tekoferol is a component of the auditing pre-shampue Kérastase régénérant, the product lessens the damage that oxidative stress causes to the scalp.

• Biotin (vitamin H, or B7) thickens hair and promotes its growth.

Where should I search? Redken offers a line of products called Biotin Extreme Length, which enables you to experiment with color and style while growing up to 15 cm of robust, healthy hair in a year.

• Nicotinic acid (vitamin PP, or B3) improves blood circulation in the scalp and strengthens the hair follicles.

Where should I search? We advise applying a spray containing vitamin PP and aminexil to the hair roots in courses, such as Kérastase Stimuliste, to promote microcirculation and stop hair loss.

• Zinc solves the problem of dry scalp, brittleness and hair loss, normalizes the sebaceous glands.

Where should I search? The professional shampoo L’Oréal Professionnel Instant Clear contains pyrithione zinc, an effective ingredient against dandruff.

What procedures have a negative effect on hair?

It goes without saying that exposure to chemical or physical external stimuli alters the composition and structure of hair. We made the decision to discuss salon procedures that may have a detrimental impact on the health of your curls. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be terrified of your upcoming salon appointment because skilled cosmeticians and knowledgeable specialists will help you lower the risks.

For curls, classic "chemistry" actually causes stress. The process totally alters the hair’s structure, causing it to lose its elasticity and radiant health. It is preferable to use gentle long-term styling techniques, such as amino acid perm, biowave based on silk proteins, and similar services, to achieve the desired curls.

The alkaline dyes’ constituents elongate the disulfide bonds that bind the hair’s amino acids together during coloring. While some bonds are entirely destroyed, others suffer severe damage. If you are not prepared for the potential side effects of dryness and porosity, go for less stressful hair coloring techniques like Matrix’s ammonia-free toners. SoColor Sync’s formula has a conditioning effect and smoothes the cuticle because of its acidic pH.

Not only are disulfide bonds broken during strand lightening, but the protein itself is also lost. In order to prevent damage to curls, professional colorists prefer to use lightening powders, powders with bonder, and similar concentrates in the composition. Specifically, this is how Redken Flash Lift Bonder Inside and Matrix Light Master work.

One major benefit of keratin straightening is that it instantly gives hair a distinctive shine and well-groomed appearance. Nevertheless, formaldehyde is a common ingredient in compositions used for the procedure, which can be detrimental to hair and those inhaling the composition’s vapors.

Hazardous substances are simply not used in modern beauty salons because professionals and administration take their clients’ peace of mind very seriously. Additionally, keratin straightening can be entirely replaced with professional smoothing products that are completely safe. One of them is the L’Oréal Professionnel Serum-oil Serie Expert Liss Unlimited, which contains pro-keratin and natural oils to soften, smooth, and discipline strands.

Interesting facts about hair

We’ve gathered ten important hair-related facts to help you value your locks even more and take better care of them.

1. The number of hair follicles is genetically determined in each of us and is inherited from our parents.
2. Hair follicles are formed during intrauterine development in the fifth month of pregnancy.
3. The number of hair follicles is different in people with different hair colors. Blondes have the most of them (about 140 thousand), redheads have the least (up to 88 thousand). But red hair is significantly thicker!
4. When wet, healthy and elastic hair can stretch by 30% of the length of dry strands.
5. Among all the tissues of the human body, hair ranks second after bone marrow in its growth rate.
6. Hair growth slows down at low temperatures, and accelerates in warm weather.
7. Men"s hair grows faster than women"s. And, as a rule, it is thicker and stiffer until hormonally programmed thinning begins.
8. On average, hair lives from 2 to 7 years. During this time, it goes through three stages of development: anagen, catagen and telogen.
9. The rarest hair color is red. It is found in only 1% of the world"s population. The most common shade is black.
10. Every day, an absolutely healthy person loses from 40 to 150 hairs.

Although it doesn’t have to be difficult, understanding the structure of hair can seem complicated. Understanding a little bit about hair styling can help you take better care of your hair and choose a more sensible haircare regimen.

The layers that make up each hair strand combine to give your hair its strength, color, and texture. Your hair’s cuticle, or outer layer, shields it from harm while the inner layers give it structure and sturdiness.

Understanding these fundamentals will help you select the appropriate treatments and products for your hair type. Keep in mind that healthy hair begins on the inside, so treat it with respect and consideration.

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