Hair care is an overall term for parts of hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair on the human head.
Care of the hair and the scalp skin are sometimes considered separate, but are often intertwined because hair grows from underneath the skin. The living part of hair is the hair follicle which contains the hair root, the sebaceous gland, the vessel for delivering nutrients (via the blood), and other parts. Hair itself is very living; however, much can be done to manage hair and ensure that the outer surface of hair, the cuticle, will remain intact and continue to protect the inner parts of the hair cell (the cortex and the medulla).
Hair care will differ according to one’s hair type and according to various processes that can be applied to hair. All hair is not the same; indeed, hair is a manifestation of human diversity.
When hair behaves in an unusual way, or a scalp skin disorder arises, it is often necessary to visit not only a qualified physician, but sometimes a dermatologist, or a trichologist. Conditions that require this type of professional help include, but are not limited to, forms of alopecia, hair pulling/picking, hair that sticks straight out, black dots on the hair, and rashes or burns resulting from chemical processes.