HairFactz Definitions
Some words have more than one meaning. Only those meanings relating to this site will be used.
All Definitions
Dandruff
Dandruff is a common condition involving an increased rate of shedding of dead epidermal (outer layer of the skin) cells of the scalp that causes flaky, white to grayish scales to form, and is usually accompanied by itching.
Depilatory
Pronounced - di-pil-uh-tor-ee
Depilatory products remove unwanted hair at the skin's surface. Available in gels, creams, lotions, aerosols, and roll ons. Apply it, wait, wash or wipe it off. Depilatory products are not a permanent hair removal method. Results last approximately a week. More about Depilatories
Dermal Papilla
Connective living tissue from which hair is generated from the follicle in the thick layer of the skin below the epidermis. Skin is made up of three layers:
- First layer of skin - Epidermis - the tough, protective, topmost outer layer that covers the body
- Second layer of skin - Dermis - the middle layer, under the epidermis, also called corium or derma
- Third layer of skin - Subcutis or Hypodermis - fatty layer of subcutaneous tissue, the bottom, deepest layer
Distal End
The end of the hair away from the root, towards the tip.
DNA
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical substance from which genes are made. DNA is a long macromolecule that carries a person's genetic information. DNA is a double-stranded molecule held together by weak bonds between base pairs of nucleotides. The four nucleotides in DNA contain the bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In nature, base pairs form only between A and T and between G and C; thus the base sequence of each single strand can be deduced from that of its partner.
Dye
A chemical used to artificially color hair.