New York State Barber Practice Exam

The hair follicle is the part of the hair that contains pigment. The follicle houses the hair bulb, where the hair is formed and where melanocytes are located. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. As hair grows, the pigment deposited in the hair shaft determines its hue.

In contrast, the hair shaft, which is the visible part of the hair that extends above the scalp, contains no living cells or pigment-producing cells; it consists primarily of keratin proteins. The hair cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, serving as a protective shield, and again does not contain pigment. The hair root, while it may be associated with the follicle, primarily refers to the area where the hair is anchored in the scalp and does not have pigment in the same way that the follicle does. Thus, understanding the different structures and their functions helps clarify why the hair follicle is the correct choice regarding the presence of pigment.