Hair

About this chapter on hair...

In this chapter we look at the basic properties of hair, how hair grows, and why hair differs so much from one person to another.
    We explain why the quality and quantity of hair changes with the passing of time, and what decides how well hair can be styled or cosmetically changed.

Human hair

The hair we have

All land mammals - including humans - have hairy skins, although in us most of the hair is not immediately visible. As with other mammals, our hair characteristics are inherited directly from our parents. Your hair color and hair type were decided for you, as were the colors of your eyes and your skin.

Cat's hair insulates their bodies and may also help them to identify each other

  
   In the end, whether or not your hair has the precious quality of being 'easy to manage' depends on what your parents have passed on to you from your ancestors.

The human 'kitten' has more hair per square centimeter
of her skin than the real one, only most of it is too fine
to see

What hair does

Scientists believe that hair has evolved for the identification of individuals, and for sexual or status display to other members of their species.