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The scientific study of the hair, it's diseases, and its care?

Hair Root

The part of the hair located below the surface of the scalp?

Hair Shaft

The portion of the hair that projects above the skin?


The tube like depression or pocket in the skin or scalp that contain the hair root?

Hair Bulb

The lowest area or part of the hair strand?

Dermal Papilla

Small, cone-shaped area located at the base of the hair follicle that fits into the hair bulb?

Dermal Papilla

Contains the blood and nerve supply that provides the nutrients needed for hair growth?

Arrector Pili

A tiny involuntary muscle in the base of the hair follicle, causes goose bumps?

Sebaceous Glands

The oil glands of the skin, connected to the hair follicles, secrete an oily substance called Sebum?


The outermost layer of hair?


The middle layer of the hair?


The innermost layer and is composed of round cells?


A fibrous protein called?


Abnormal hair loss?

Alopecia Areata

The sudden falling out of hair in round patches or baldness in spots?

Amino Acids

Units that are joined together end to end by peptide bonds to form the polypeptide chains that comprise proteins?


Growth phase in the hair cycle in which a new hair shaft is created?

Androgenic Alopecia

Hair loss characterized by miniaturization of terminal hair which is converted to vellus hair; in men, it is known as male pattern baldness?


Technical term for gray hair?


Inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue caused by staphylococci?


The brief transition period between the growth and resting phases of a hair follicle?

COHNS Elements

The five elements that make up human hair, skin, tissue and nails (carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur)?


Tuft of hair that stands straight up?

Disulfide Bond

Strong chemical side bonds that join the sulfur atoms of two neighboring cysteine amino acids to create cystine?


Melanin that gives brown and black color to hair?

Fragilitas Crinium

Technical term for brittle hair?


Boil; acute, localized bacterial infection of the hair follicle?

Hair Density

The number of individual hair strands found on 1 square inch of scalp?

Hair Elasticity

Ability of the hair to stretch and return to it's original length without breaking?

Hair Porosity

Ability of the hair to absorb moisture?

Hair Stream

Hair flowing in the same direction, resulting from follicles sloping in the same direction?

Hair Texture

Thickness or diameter of the individual hair strands?


Spiral shape created by polypeptide chains that intertwine around each other?

Hydrogen Bond

Weak physical side bond that is easily broken by water or heat?


Condition of abnormal growth of hair, characterized by the growth of terminal hair in areas of the body that normally grow only vellus hair?


Largest and fastest growing organ of the body; composed of the hair, skin, and nails?


Process by which newly formed cells in the hair bulb mature, fill with keratin, move upward, lose their nucleus, and die?


Naturally occurring fungus that is present on all human skin, and is responsible for dandruff?


Tiny grains of pigment in the cortex that give natural color to the hair?


Technical term for beaded hair?

Pediculosis Capitis

Infestation of the hair and scalp with lice?

Peptide Bond

Chemical bond that joins amino acids to each other, end to end, to form a polypeptide chain, also referred to as end bond?


Melanin that provides natural hair colors from red and ginger to yellow/blond tones?


Dandruff; an inflammation of the skin characterized by the formation and flaking of fine, thin scales?

Pityriasis Capitis Simplex

Technical term for classic dandruff; characterized by scalp irritation, large flakes, and itchy scalp?

Pityriasis Steatoides

Scalp inflammation marked by fatty (greasy or waxy) types of dandruff?

Polypeptide Chain

Long chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds?

Postpartum Alopecia

Temporary hair loss experienced at the conclusion of a pregnancy?

Ringed Hair

Variety of canities characterized by alternating bands of gray and pigmented hair throughout the length of the hair strand?

Salt Bond

A weak, temporary side bond between adjacent polypeptide chains?


Highly contagious disease caused by mites that burrow under the skin?


Dry sulfur-yellow, cup-like crusts on the scalp in tinea favosa or favus?

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Medical term for pityriasis steatoids accompanied by redness and inflammation?


Oily secretion of the sebaceous glands, which lubricates the hair and skin?


Resting phase; the final phase in the hair cycle that lasts until the fully grown hair is shed?

Terminal Hair

Long hair found on the scalp, as well as on legs, arms, and body of both males and females?


Medical term for ringworm, a contagious condition caused by fungal infection?

Tinea Capitis

Fungal infection of the scalp characterized by red papules, or spots at the opening of hair follicles?

Tinea Favosa

Fungal infection characterized by dry, sulfur-yellow, cup-like crusts on the scalp, called scutula?


Technical term for split ends?

Trichorrhexis Nodosa

Knotted hair characterized by brittleness and the formation of nodular swellings along the hair shaft?


Short, fine, unpigmented downy hair that appears on the body, with the exception of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet?

Wave Pattern

Amount of "movement" in the hair strand; described as straight, wavy, curly, and extremely curly?


Hair that forms in a circular pattern, as on the crown?


A tropical medication that is applied to the scalp twice a day, and has been proven to stimulate hair growth?


An oral prescription medication for hair loss, for men only?

Inactive Sebaceous Glands

Dry hair and scalp can be caused by?

Overactive Sebaceous Glands

Oily hair and scalp is caused by improper shampooing or?

Vellus and Terminal

The two main types of hair found on the body are?

Breaks Easily

Hair with low elasticity is brittle and?

Overly porous

Hair with high porosity is considered?


Hair with average porosity is considered to be?


Hair with low porosity is considered?


Hair texture that has the largest diameter?


The most common hair texture?


Hair texture that has the smallest diameter and is more fragile?


The four most important factors to consider in hair analysis are texture, porosity, density, and?

Extremely Curly Hair

Cross-sections that are highly oval and vary in shape and thickness along their length?

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