Fibers

-naturally renewable resource -natural coloration (less dying) -superior warmth, texture and durability -biodegrablable

-can be difficult to harvest -costly to process -processor availability

-straight or arched -thicker and longer than secondary hairs

-softer and shorter -wavy or bristled

-whiskers -found on face and throughout coat

-house the growing point of the hair -found within the deep layer of skin -contains arrector pili muscles

-one large primary hair from one follicle -ex. Horses, cows, pigs

-one primary hair plus many secondary hairs -undercoat -ex. Dogs, cats

DNA from hair cells that nourish the growing strand of hair

hair still housed in the follcile

the hair we see on the outside

core of the hair strand -may be air-filled or solid -gives flexibility to hair

-majority of hair bulk -thick and rigid -composed of keratin

-single layers that can either decrease or increase the ability for the hair to stick together -scale like cells, shingle like -degree of overlap influences fiber quality

-protein that provides strength and water proofing -95% of hair -82% of wool -keratin is 2-6% sulfur because of the amino acid cysteine

coil shaped, elasticity, sulfur keeps protein intact

-found in the cortex -produced by melanocytes

brown and black coloration

red coloration

look white but are not actually white -seeing the chalky air filled medulla through colorless cortex

length of wool at shearing

the wave/kink/curl in the wool

crimps per inch

one swipe of the shearing blades