NOCTI Cosmetology Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Prep Guide

The term that best describes the scale-like cells found in hair is "Cuticle." The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft, consisting of overlapping, flat, scale-like cells that provide protection to the inner layers of the hair strand. These cells are vital for maintaining the integrity of the hair, as they help to prevent damage from external factors and minimize moisture loss.

The cuticle's structure allows it to create a barrier that secures the moisture within the cortex, which is the middle layer of hair comprising fibrous proteins and melanin (the pigment that gives hair its color). While the cortex is responsible for the hair's strength and elasticity, it is the cuticle that serves as the first line of defense against environmental damage.

The medulla is the innermost layer and is often absent in finer hair types, playing less of a role in the overall structural protection. The root refers to the part of the hair that is embedded in the follicle and does not pertain to the protective scale-like structure seen along the hair shaft itself.