Hair
Thu, August 30, 2007 at 12:45 AM 
Everyone seems to know the basics, hair is made of dead cells. Beyond that we only know to shampoo it, comb it and try to prevent split ends. So how exactly is this hair formed when we have plenty of other dead cells falling off our skin all the time?
The key is a substance called keratin. When the cells die it leaves a cylinder of keratin, an extremely strong protein. So strong in fact, that the only biological material stronger than keratin is chitin. Now before you go bragging about how strong your keratin is to all those bald friends you need to know that their are types of keratin. It just happens to be that the keratin that makes up the hair on your head is not near as tough as that which makes up the claws and scales of reptiles.
So yes, their keratins could beat up your keratins.
While completely lifeless, hair does contain minerals, fats, and water (10%). So, if you are ever on a deserted island you could survive just a little longer on a nice fistful of hair. However, growing on average 1 cm a month means this food supply isn’t very replenishable. Eat wisely.
Reader Comments (12)
Bases I knew certainly, but it not on me!
All I know, is that when I see a handul of it floating in the swimming pool, it freaks me out.
I am gonna be freaked out when i saw a handful of hair floating in the swimming pool too! LOL
I know a real story of a girl who used to eat her own hairs. When she started keeping very ill and vomited everything she ate; visited many doctors but no one diagnosed the reason. One doctor did and operated her. The culprit was HAIRS and her bad habit.
I hope my cat had brown hairs that I could blame are tangled on my carpet...Unfortunately she has white hairs :)
Hair is one of the first thing that we notice to a person and yet many doesn't know and don't even care how hair is formed. Only they care about what color will they use to dye their hair, what hairstyle will they follow and will really only care if they are already suffering from hair loss or baldness.
Hair starts growing from a bulb which is lodged just under the skin. The beginning of a hair is made up of cells, which are bulging with keratin. The cells lengthen and then die, leaving behind protein bundles. There are two types of keratin: I and II. And their intertwining form long coils which accumulate in hair. Though hairstyles are short-lived, hair is not. Hair is a tissue that can last for thousands of years, So you better start taking care of your hair before its too late.
-John Simon
I would like to mention here is that hair is composed of 88% proteins therefore, taking protein diet like eggs can make them strong.
I've been using keratin-rich shampoo for months since I believe that the hair is the crowning glory of girls.
After reading that I'm never going to look at my hair in the same way again.
Does anyone knows why there are times when hair suddenly falls and other where is completely normal. Because that’s my problem. Is that a problem on Keratin irregularity or inconsistence.
Just read this article , I found very useful for me because I am loosing my hair rapidly in early age. Hope to gain my lost hair soon.
I didnt know that you could eat hair for survival, that is handy to know, you know in case of emergencies!