Hair

Hair grows from small holes in your skin called follicles. Most people have hair on their head, arms, and legs. Hair comes in many colors, like black, brown, blond, and red. It can be straight, wavy, or curly.

How Hair Grows

Hair grows from the root under your skin. As new cells are made, they push the hair up. The part of the hair you can see is already dead, which is why haircuts do not hurt. Hair grows about half an inch every month.

A close-up comparing soft sheep wool and a human hair.
A close-up comparing soft sheep wool and a human hair. (division, CSIRO / Wikimedia Commons)

What Hair Does

Hair keeps your head warm in cold weather. Eyebrows stop sweat from dripping into your eyes. Eyelashes keep dust out of your eyes. Hair also makes each person look different and special.

Fun Facts

  • You have about 100,000 hairs on your head.
  • It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs every day.
  • Blond people have more hair than redheads.

Did You Know?

Hair is made of the same stuff as your fingernails. It is a protein called keratin.