Hairs on scalp. Coloured Scanning Electron Micro- graph (SEM) of hairs on the human scalp. At centre are two shafts of hair which have emerged from follicles in the skin. Epidermal cells of the scalp form concentric layers around the hairs, with some dead cells of the epidermis peeling off. Hair is made up of a fibrous protein called keratin. The hair shaft is covered with keratin scales or plates which, it is thought, prevent the hairs from matting together. Each hair follicle is located in the epidermis of the skin, forming a deep root which anchors the hair. Epidermal cells within the root bulb divide causing the hair to grow. Magnification: x100 at 6x6cm size. x160 at 4x5"~SQUARE"