When many of us think about our hair, we focus on how to wash it, style it and take care of it to the best of our abilities. With this being said, how much do we really know about hair itself?
Unless we have taken courses on the subject or learned about it in our spare time, it’s not a subject that the majority of us make a point to educate ourselves on. However, by learning more about hair, we will have better insight into how to nourish our hair. This is why OSKA PURE is here to discuss everything you need to know about hair anatomy and composition.
Scalp
The scalp consists of 5 layers. This includes, the skin, connective tissue, epicranial aponeurosis, loose areolar tissue and pericranium. The skin is composed of two main layers, called the epidermis and the dermis. Hair grows underneath the skin at the point where the deep dermis and the hypodermis meet. This point is called the bulb. Surrounding the hair shafts are glands, including the sebaceous gland and on the scalp’s surface, pores purge the sweat produced by sweat glands.
As the name implies, the sebaceous gland produces sebum which is a natural lubricant for hair. This sebum only reaches about three to four inches from the root of the hair but is important for hair protection and its health.
Although, excess sebum is what leads to greasy hair. Due to how the sebum reaches a certain point of the hair, many suffer from greasy roots while also having dry ends. This is commonly known as having combination hair.
Hair
The hair shaft itself is penetrated by a small vessel that ensures proper blood supply. This blood supply provides each strand of hair with 18 amino acids, minerals and vitamins. The most well known, keratin, composes 95% of the hair and is a fibrous protein. Keratin plays an important role in skin and nail health, too! Impenetrable by water, keratin is a key element in the protection of the hair.
Hair Structure
There are three main parts of the structure of hair. The medulla, the cuticle, and the cortex.
Photo Credit: CBSD
Medulla
The medulla, also known as the pith, is the main part of the shaft. Consisting of keratin proteins and structural lipids, it is surrounded by the cortex. As such, it is a major part of the fiber mass that is hair.
Cortex
The cortex is then surrounded by the cuticle and it is the thickest hair layer. It is quite the central part of the hair, as the keratin found in the cortex is what provides the hair with the strength, texture, shine, elasticity, resistance and flexibility. The melanin pigment found in the hair cortex is also to be credited for the color of a person’s hair! It’s all quite interesting, isn’t it?
Cuticle
The cuticle is an outer layer that acts as a thin layer of protection to the cortex. It is essential to the hair’s development. Made of overlapping cells, the cuticle is highly keratinized.
Protecting the hair cuticle is quite important as well; it is essential for hair’s ability to retain moisture and bounce. For example, when raised, the hair cuticle makes it easier for moisture to enter the hair shaft. Thus, creating frizzy hair.
Many of the hair products that are on the market today, advertise as being able to reduce frizz. Have you ever wondered how they do it? Most of these products use heavy silicones to keep moisture and humidity out of the hair. Unfortunately, silicones are not soluble. These products tend to leave product build-up on the hair, thus weighing the hair down.
Luckily, OSKA PURE products are silicone and paraben-free.
Safe for color- and keratin-treated hair, OSKA PURE Anti-Frizz Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner eliminates frizz and fly-away hair, improves softness, and adds body and luster.
Do you need help with creating a finished style? If so, take a look at our Styling Cream! With anti-frizz and anti-UV nourishing Amazonian oils, shea butter, natural emollients and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, it provides targeted styling and a treatment all in one bottle. If you like a hassle-free routine and healthy hair, OSKA PURE Styling Cream is all you need.