Human hair is not only a piece of jewelry, but also a true marker of our body's health. They have a complex structure - each hair shaft is made up of a number of key elements, each of which plays an important role. And information about the structure of hair will be useful to everyone - both those who want to take better care of their strands, and those who provide professional care. Let's try to understand this issue in a little more detail, discuss the structure of the hair and learn how to maintain the health and beauty of locks for many years of life.
The structure of human hair
The structure of the hair on the head is approximately the same. They consist of:
- rod - the growing visible part, which is located on the surface of the skin;
- root - the inner part that is invisible to the eye, which is located in the thickness of the skin and ends with the hair follicle.
Both the root of the hair and its bulb are located in a kind of sac - hair follicle. It is the outlet ducts of the skin glands (sebaceous glands). The structure of the hair follicle includes a hair follicle, and directly next to it is located connective tissue papilla, it is somewhat extending into the bulb. This formation contains blood vessels and fine nerve fibers, thanks to it the hair receives nutrients and oxygen. If the papilla dies, then the hair stops its vital activity. When removing hair (even pulling out the root), the papilla is most often preserved, so in place of the removed hair shaft soon grows a new one - growth occurs due to the division of the matrix, so called young cells that are near the papilla. They gradually rise upwards, and as they move towards the skin border they become non-viable, harden and become hair.
Each hair follicle has a significant number of nerve fibers, as well as its own muscle that lifts the hair. It also contracts in response to cold or fright. There are up to five million follicles on the body of each of us, and all of them can produce hair.
Breaking down the structure of the human hair it is necessary to take a closer look at the structure of the hair shaft. It has three main layers:
- Internal or medular. It is also called medula. It consists of horny scales, tiny air bubbles and coloring pigment - melanin. Over the years, the amount of melanin decreases and the mass of air increases. The medulla of the hair is responsible for the volume, strength and thermoregulation of the strands.
- Medulla or cortex. Also called the cortex of the hair, it is the part that is responsible for the strength of the hair and its elasticity. It accounts for 85 to 95% of the volume of the entire hair and is made up of many keratin fibers. They twist together to form super spirals and are held in this position statically. The cortex of the hair determines its strength. The basic bonds of the hair shaft are disulfide bonds.
- The outer one is the hair cuticle. It consists of cells arranged in a thin tile-like layer. If the cells are even and smooth, they reflect light rays, making the hair look healthy and shiny. The cuticle scales are locked together by layers of fat, and when alkaline products are used, these lipids leave the hair, causing dullness. The cuticle is very important for the health of the hair - it serves as a protection and barrier, prevents mechanical and physical influences.
Modern trichologists distinguish different types of hair by structure. They can be:
- smooth and straight;
- wavy or curly (with an uneven structure).
Each of these types is also divided into subspecies, depending on the features of the strands.
Also separately distinguish 3 different types of hair depending on the level of porosity:
- low-porous or with a vitreous structure - are smooth, completely frizz-free, difficult to style;
- medium porous - have slightly open scales, slightly frizzy only in high humidity conditions, well styled;
- highly porous - have very open scales, look voluminous and frizzy, lose moisture faster, very prone to dryness and damage (often seen in curly hair).
Factors affecting hair structure
Hair structure can change due to a variety of factors, including:
- stressful situations (family problems, moving, changing jobs, etc.);
- hormonal disruptions (especially after pregnancy and during menopause);
- improper care;
- aggressive impact of environmental factors, including ultraviolet light, frost, salty sea water;
- mechanical damage (aggressive combing, rubbing with a towel, etc.);
- bad habits;
- deficiency of nutrients in the daily diet;
- chemical damage during coloring, perming, bleaching, etc..;
- thermal damage with a hair dryer, curling iron, styler, iron, etc.
How to restore the structure of hair?
If the structure of the hair has been damaged, which negatively affected its strength, elasticity and appearance, it is necessary to think about restoring the strands. In particular, minor damage can be restored by proper care. To do this, it is necessary:
- the use of restorative products - shampoo, masks, ampoules and so on;
- refuse aggressive coloring, switch to gentle dyes;
- avoid aggressive temperature effects on the strands;
- take care of hair from environmental factors.
Excellent effect if the structure of the hair has changed, can give shampoos with keratin. Although keratins in their composition can not penetrate into the cortex, they effectively fill the voids in the outer shell - invite and restore the scales of the cuticle. This makes the porous structure of the hair smoother.
However, in case of deep damage to disulfide bonds, for example, as a result of regular use of an iron or thermal curling, care alone will not be enough. In this case, it is recommended to carry out more serious cosmetic procedures, for example, cold restoration or Botox.
Many girls are interested in how to determine the structure of hair and find out the extent of its damage. To do this, it is worth consulting a qualified trichologist. And you can buy everything you need for home care and for professional restoration of strands inexpensively in our online store BrazilProf. We have collected high quality professional products that will help to restore health and beauty of strands and scalp, both for women and men, including a variety of shampoos, sprays, conditioners and oils at a pleasant competitive price. Our company adheres to a healthy approach to pricing and avoids unnecessary markups, so the cost of all items in the catalog is absolutely justified. You can order goods from us with delivery throughout Ukraine.
