Preface. Notes on contributors. Physiology and growth of human hair (Harry Harding and George Rogers). 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Embryology of human hairs 1.3 Structure of the hair follicle. 1.4 The hair. 1.5 Molecular biology of hair growth 1.6 The hair cycle. 1.7 Hair types and morphology. 1.8 Hair growth, distribution and patterns 1.9 Hair growth problems. 1.10 Hair colour and pigmentation. 1.11 Glossary. 1.12 Acknowledgements. 1.13 References. 2 Forensic and microscopic examination of human hair (James Robertson). 2.1 Setting the scene. 2.2 Introduction. 2.3 Non-human hair 2.4 Human hair. 2.5 Examination process. 2.6 Reporting hair examinations. 2.7 Conclusion. 2.8 Acknowledgement 2.9 References. Appendix 1: Animal hair examination proforma. Appendix 2: Human hair examination proforma. Appendix 3: Case report examples and hair protocol. Appendix 4: Section 3.10.3 NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia), General requirements for registration. 3 Typing of DNA derived from hairs (Joseph A. DiZinno, Mark R. Wilson and Bruce Budowle). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 DNA - a brief summary. 3.3 Mitochondrial DNA. 3.4 mt DNA nomenclature issues 3.5 Extraction of DNA. 3.6 DNA extraction from hair. 3.7 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 3.8 Sequencing. 3.9 Dot blot typing. 3.10 Forensic applications. 3.11 References. 4 Elemental analysis of hair for forensic application - a personal journey (John Goulding). 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Occurrence of elements in human hair. 4.3 Procedures and protocols. 4.4 Conclusions. 4.5 Acknowledgements. 4.6 References. Appendix 1: Case histories - Multi-element applications. Appendix 2: Case histories - Single-element application. Appendix 3: IAEA Advisory - Sampling conditions for hair. 5 Drug Analysis using hair (Ian R. Tebbett ). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Drugs in hair. 5.3 Conclusions. 5.4 References. 6 Forensic examination of hairs for cosmetic treatment (Debra Nelson and Peter de Forest). 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Cosmetic treatments. 6.3 Hair dyes. 6.4 Bleach. 6.5 Permanent waves and relaxers. 6.6 Shampoos, conditioners and polymers. 6.7 Detection and characterization. 6.8 Conclusions. 6.9 References. 7 Evidential value of hair examination (Barry D. Gaudette). 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Occurrence of hair as physical evidence. 7.3 Recovery of hair evidence. 7.4 The process of forensic hair comparison. 7.5 Interpreting the significance of hair comparison evidence. 7.6 Report writing and court testimony. 7.7 Acknowledgements. 7.8 References.