The skin covers the surface of the human body and for an average adult almost 2 square meters of skin surface area is covered with hair. The skin structure is derived from the ectoderm giving rise to the epidermis, wherein which cells contain keratin. Keratins are the main factors for the growth of hairs and nails in the skin. The most noticeable hair in the human body is those found in the head. Historically, hairs especially those found in animals were meant to preserve warmth released from their bodies. Unlike them, the human body does not require hair to serve only with the same purpose. For instance, it also protects the human body from the harmful rays of the sun. Nevertheless, hairs primarily serve an aesthetic purpose and are a means to give identity, attract the opposite sex or simply express a fashion statement.

1. Epidermis 2. Dermis 3. Hypodermis 4. Fascia 5. Germ Layers 6. Keratin Layers 7. Hair 9.  Hair Follicle 10. Hair Papilla 11. Toiled 13. Hair Follicles 14. Sebaceous Gland 15. Arrector Pili Muscle 16. Sweat Gland

What we actually see growing from the skin are called hair shafts originating from keratin which is notably the reason for its elasticity, strength and provides the human body with protection from various harmful chemical substances.
 

In humans, the entire length of the hair shaft has a uniform strength but gets thinner up to the end part and usually tends to curve. The part near the skin is called roots and scalp which cover the follicles. The roots of the hair expand as it goes deeper into the hair follicle up to the hair papilla that contains the blood supply which nourishes the hair.
 

The hair follicle is a very important matrix of actively proliferating group of cells, which become keratinized to form the hair cortex. These cells push upwards and later on become the actual hair. Each strand is composed of 3 layers. The outer layer called the cuticle, is a strong layer and protects the inner layers of the hair.  Human hair has typically 6 to 10 layers of cuticle wrapping the inner layers like a wristband. The cuticle has the greatest influence on the appearance of the human hair. Closely inside the cuticle is the inner cortex which is responsible for the hair’s strength, elasticity and durability. In the center of each hair strand is the Medulla or the core is the supporting structure for a strand of hair. Sometimes, the medulla can be absent or interrupted without weakening the hair strand.