Why Do We Have Hair?

What You'll Learn

• Hair helps keep our body warm
• Hair protects our skin from the sun and from small particles
• Eyelashes and eyebrows keep sweat and dust out of our eyes
• Hair grows from tiny pockets in the skin called follicles
• Different animals have different kinds of hair for different habitats

Words to Know

Hair

Thin strands that grow out of skin

"Hair on my head keeps me warm."

Follicle

A tiny pocket where hair grows

"Each hair grows from a follicle."

Insulate

To trap heat and keep warm

"My hair insulates my head."

Protect

To keep safe from harm

"Eyelashes protect my eyes."

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• Hair is made of a protein called keratin and grows from follicles in the skin

  Source: Britannica / biology

• Hair on the scalp helps insulate and protect from UV radiation

  Source: American Academy of Dermatology

• Eyelashes and eyebrows protect the eyes from sweat, debris, and sunlight

  Source: AAD

• Nasal hair filters airborne particles such as dust and pollen

  Source: American Lung Association

• Body hair can stand up to trap air for warmth, producing goosebumps

  Source: Scientific American

• Hair growth rate is roughly 0.5 inches (1.25 cm) per month

  Source: AAD