What is hair made of, what is the source and how does it grow?

peasypod

Human and animal hair is built from a protein called keratin which has an unusually high sulphur content. Its growth is totally dependent on the person's dietary intake. Its colour is due to the amounts of melanin present. The hair is constructed of amino acids in a chain-like formation called polypeptide chains or helix coils. The twisted helical coils associate together to form microfibrils, which twist together to form macrofibrils, which twist together to form cortical fibrils. The cortical fibrils are embedded in a high sulphur protein, known as intercellular cement or protein matrix. Jul 05 04, 7:13 AM

gmackematix

I agree with your answer except for the part about growth being totally dependent on dietary intake. Does changing one's diet really affect the way that hair grows? Jul 06 04, 5:36 PM

peasypod

People suffering from malnutrition suffer from all sorts of hair and scalp disorders. Good nutrition is essential for growth, repair, energy production and regulation of all body systems not just hair growth. Jul 06 04, 8:10 PM