What is hair, and why are there so many different hair types? 

Hair is made up of keratin, a hard protein, and hair is actually split up into three shafts: the medulla, the cortex, and the cuticle. According to an article from WebMD, the cortex and medulla are what give your hair its pigment, and the cortex makes up the majority of your hair. 

Everyone has different hair types, including straight, curly, or wavy, and in those types there are many different variations. There are types of patterns: according to NaturAll, type 1 is straight hair, type 2 is wavy, and type 3 is curly. There is also type 4 which means your hair is coily and has tighter curls. Your hair type depends on the shape of the hair follicles on your scalp. There are many different ways to find out your hair type, including quizzes like this one and asking your hairdresser. After finding out, you can research different products that will work best for the type of hair you have. 

So what is dandruff? 

According to an article from Everyday Health, dandruff appears when small bits of skin are shed from the scalp. The amount of dandruff you get can depend on the season or if you are prone to having drier skin. Some symptoms of dandruff are itchy scalp and flakes of dead skin in your hair and on your shoulders. There are some ways to prevent having bad dandruff, like using prescribed shampoo that can help reduce the amount of dandruff. Staying hydrated can also help reduce dandruff by increasing the amount you perspire, which helps keep your body cool. 

by Elyse Preston ’25, Staff Writer

25epreston@montroseschool.org