Which part of the hair is located above the surface of the skin?

The hair shaft is the part of the hair that extends above the surface of the skin. It is the visible, external portion of the hair that you see and style. The hair shaft consists of three main layers: the cuticle (the outer protective layer), the cortex (the middle layer containing melanin and keratin), and, in some cases, the medulla (the innermost layer, which is not always present in finer hair).

Understanding the structure of hair helps in various aspects of esthetics, including hair care, treatments, and styling. The other parts mentioned, such as the hair papilla, hair bulb, and hair follicle, are actually located beneath the skin’s surface. The hair papilla nourishes the hair and is found within the hair bulb, which is responsible for hair growth. The hair follicle is the structure in the skin that holds the hair root. Therefore, the hair shaft is the only component listed that is prominently visible outside of the skin.