Barber Practice State Board Practice Exam

As the cells of the hair shaft mature, they accumulate which substance?

1. Moisture

2. Keratin

3. Cholesterol

4. Collagen

The correct answer is: Keratin

As the cells of the hair shaft mature, they accumulate keratin, which is a fibrous protein that is a key structural component of hair. Keratin provides strength and resilience to the hair, allowing it to maintain its shape and withstand damage. The process of keratinization involves the gradual maturation of hair cells, where they fill with keratin and eventually die, forming the hard structure of the hair shaft that we see. This accumulation begins in the hair follicle, where the cells are produced, and continues as the hair grows out of the scalp. Moisture plays a role in keeping hair healthy but is not directly accumulated in the hair shaft during cell maturation. Cholesterol is a type of lipid that is important for membrane structure in cells but does not accumulate in hair cells as they mature. Collagen is a protein found mainly in connective tissues and does not play a direct role in hair structure; rather, it supports the skin and follicles from which hair grows.