What is hair?
Hair is the protein fiber that grows from an organ within the skin known as the hair follicle. Hair is comprised of mostly keratin which is a protein your body produces through the consumption of a nutrient-rich diet. [1][2]
What contributes to the chemical makeup of hair?
I’m sure you’ve heard or read of “the building blocks of life” at some point. This phrase refers to amino acids that combine to form proteins that, once consumed and broken down, serve many purposes in your body. One of those purposes involves the healthy growth of hair. During the growth phase of hair, the major elements that make up amino acids are incorporated into the hair strand and form bonds that give hair its strength and elasticity.
One study of the hair of 5 healthy individuals shows that elements such as gold, silver, and selenium along with 9 other elements were identified. [3][4][5]
Some Elements that makeup hair
The 5 major elements that make up human hair are carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. These elements are often referred to as the COHNS elements. They are also found in the skin and nails.
COHNS Elements
The approximate percentage of each element found in hair is:
- Carbon – 51% approx.
- Oxygen – 21% approx.
- Hydrogen – 6% approx.
- Nitrogen – 17% approx.
- Sulfur – 5% approx.
A few ways hair is used in our world
Surprisingly, due to its chemical composition hair has many uses within society. They include:
Hair additions
Hair breaks down at a very slow rate when exposed to just air, so one of the most common uses of hair is evident on the heads or faces of individuals who wear hair additions in their varying forms:
- Wigs
- Hair Extensions
- Eyelashes
- Mustaches
- Beards
- Etc.
Hair is used as fertilizer
Due to its chemical makeup, human hair is used as fertilizer. The sulfur and high nitrogen content along with 20 other elements that can be found in hair are essential for plants. While human hair can be composted, non-composted hair is best for fertilizer due to the possible loss of nitrogen during composting.[6]
Hair is used as an additive and for spill clean-ups, etc.
Human hair’s strength and versatility are not only recognized by the Beauty Industry, hair has been mixed with clay along with other binders for use in plastering walls, lining ovens, and so on. The addition of hair prolongs the life of these structures, reduces cracking, as well as enhances thermal insulation in clay structures. Human hair has also been used to clean up oil spills, which can then be used to grow mushrooms. [7]
Pest control
Pest control is also an interesting use for hair. In Mauritius, human hair is used to repel rabbits. Deer that are not accustomed to humans are repulsed by the human smell therefore, in certain US states, hair is hung from nylon bags to deter deer.
Summary
Human hair is a keratinous fiber, its composition consists of the 5 major elements, referred to as the COHNS elements: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. It is biodegradable and has been used as fertilizer, it is also used to soak up oils in oil spills, and much more. The most common use for human hair is in the form of various hair additions/extensions.
Refer to your local government’s website for a guide on how you can dispose of your unwanted hair.