Question: what is hair made out of and why can it grow out of our head?

Vicky Young answered on 14 Mar 2012:

Hair is made from a protein called keratin and is made like fingernails… I think you ask a question about fingernails on Monday?

We have hair on our heads and bodies for several reasons:

While humans have developed clothing and other means of keeping warm, the hair found on the head works as heat insulation and cooling (when sweat evaporates from soaked hair) as well as protection from ultra-violet radiation exposure from the sun. Other bodily hair as well as head hair can protect from dirt sweat and rain, this is most important for our sensory organs such as the eyes and ears. So thats why we have it on our head!