What exactly is hair?

When you see the hairs that collect in the shower strainer or on the comb, they do not look so remarkable. But like so much in nature, every hair is a rather ingenious construction, and the hair is an essential part of our personality.

Ingenious construction

A hair is built about according to the same principle as the bones in our body. The most important building block is the protein keratin. Inside there is a marrow, and it is surrounded by a shell or bark that is ingeniously constructed. It is this bark that gives both the hair strength and strength while allowing the hair to absorb water. This bark (which in a finer word is called cortex) also contains melanin which, among other things, gives the hair its color. At the end of the hair is a layer called the cuticle. This surface layer contains lipids (fatty acids) which cause the hair to repel water.

Grows only in the root

The part of the hair that we see is not really a biologically active part. It is often said that the visible hair is "dead". But under the skin, in the hair follicle, there is full activity. It is in the lower part of the hair follicle that the growth itself takes place. This is done through cell division, and when the new cells are formed, they migrate upwards and "die". Since there is room for new cells, the hair strand is slowly but surely pushed upwards - the hair grows.

Nutrition that the root needs

An important ingredient is keratin. Keratin is the most important building block in the hair shaft, and this protein must be available to the hair follicle. Copper and zinc are important for the hair follicle to develop. Biotin, niacin and pantothenic acid are also important components, where biotin is considered extra important for men's hair growth.

You can get a lot through the diet, but if you are careless with the composition of the diet or eat irregularly, your hair may need the help of a dietary supplement.

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