Chapter 6 – Characteristic of the Hair

Objectives

• Understand the characteristics and structure of the hair shaft.
• Learn how to conduct a proper hair analysis in order to assess condition and elasticity for formulating hair color, perms and treatments in the salon.

Introduction

It is critical to understand the seven key characteristics of hair: texture, density, porosity, elasticity, tenacity, formation and color. These characteristics all must be considered before deciding how to cut, style, color or texturize a client’s hair.

Every study of hair structure begins with the composition of each hair. The hair is comprised of three basic sections or layers. The outermost layer is the cuticle. These overlapping dead cells are similar to shingles on a roof. They protect the softer, inner layers and they give hair its outward appearance.