Why can the hair absorb water?

Question

and what is the chemistry of the hair?

Answer 1

Of course a hair grows by cell division at the root although the DNA of the divided cells is lost as in dead skin. The hair shaft is covered with a cuticle like a layer of scales that can easily absorb water. Because the shaft is forced out of the hair pore in only one direction, the scales point backwards toward the root (like fish scales pointing at the tail). With your fingernail you can feel that a hair shaft is smooth in one direction and rough in the other. It is easier to tease hair than say smooth spaghetti, right? That is perhaps also why a loose hair will cling to your rough tongue. Also the roughness accounts for the fact that long horse hairs can be used to bow a violin (if they are mixed 50-50 in both directions). One married man came home with a long blond hair on his lapel and was "forced" to take up the violin.

Answer 2

the hair is a hollow , narrow tube . due to suface tension , hair absorbs water.

Answer 3

Because it is porous.

Answer 4

dead skin cells