Human head hair. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a shaft of Eurasian human head hair. Hair consists largely of keratin, a fibrous protein. The hair cuticle is formed of overlapping plates or scales, which are thought to reduce hair matting. As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent color like grey, silver, or white. Magnification: x680 when printed 10cm wide.