Hair is made of dead cells filled with and surrounded by a protein called keratin.
Understanding Hair Composition
The visible part of your hair consists of dead cells. However, these cells are not empty; they are primarily composed of a fibrous structural protein known as keratin. Keratin provides strength and structure to the hair shaft. The production of keratin occurs within the hair follicle, a living structure located in the skin. As new cells are produced, they push older cells outward, resulting in the hair we see. These outer cells are dead but retain the keratin structure.
Several sources confirm this dual nature:
- Flexi Says: Clearly states that hair is composed of dead cells and keratin.
- Visible Body Blog: Specifies that hair is made up of dead cells filled with and surrounded by keratin, clarifying the relationship between the two.
- Biology Stack Exchange: Reinforces the idea that hair is comprised of dead cells containing keratin.
- Numerous other sources (including KidsHealth, Healthline, and Quora answers) emphasize that the visible hair is made of dead cells, but highlight the importance of keratin in its structure and the living nature of the hair follicle.
Why the Confusion?
The question of whether hair is "protein" or "dead cells" is a bit of a semantic issue. It's both. The protein keratin is the primary structural component of the dead cells that make up the hair shaft. Thinking of it as dead cells containing keratin may be more accurate than considering it simply one or the other.
Therefore, while the visible hair shaft is composed of dead cells, these cells are fundamentally structured by and filled with the protein keratin. Maintaining healthy hair involves caring for both the structural protein and the overall health of the hair follicle that produces it.
