Hair Structure

• Hairdressing
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

There are 3 main parts to the hair structure

• Cuticle
• Cortex
• Medulla

Cuticle 

This is the outer layer 

 for Protection

Scales lay from roots to tips

Scales are like tiles on a roof 

Translucent 

If the scales are raised the hair is porous 

What is the purpose of the Cuticle ?

What could cause damage to the Cuticle?

Cortex 

• Forms main body of the hair 
• Gives strength & elasticity 
• Made of keratin fibres 
• Natural hair colour(melanin) cells are found here
• most artificial colour is stored here

What is the purpose of the Cortex?

What can be found in the Cortex?

Medulla 

• Not always present 
• It is formed of loose keratinised cells that have air pockets surrounding them.
• The medulla reflects light making the hair look shiny

 

What does the Medulla do?

What is the outside layer called?

1. cortex
2. cuticle
3. medulla
4. keratin

What is the purpose of the cuticle?

1. protect the medulla
2. make the hair strong
3. protect the cortex
4. allow the hair to be blow dried

Where do you find keratin in the hair?

1. cuticle
2. cortex
3. medulla

What do you remember about the cuticle?

What do you remember about the cortex

00:53

What is the first growing phase of the hair?

1. Dermal papilla
2. Anagen
3. Mitosis
4. Catagen

01:08

What happens in the catagen phase and how long does it last?

01:34

What is the 3rd phase of hair growth?

There are 3 main stages of the hair growth cycle, what are they known as?

Catagen

Anagen

Telogen

Return to Anagen

Early Anagen

Anagen

Telogen

Catogen

Drag the correct image to the correct hair growth stage