There are several instances when it may be important to view hair under a microscope. Hair transplant applications require the use of a stereo microscope. The image below shows a hair follicle technician using a
Meiji stereo microscope to examine hair follicles.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uBpoKNC340leVC-B5fw8nM_62Z_nU14_XPhATvhzmZvTmXPufSrThHWHc0TQ5m_hPt0XqmXir61ob-6qCQJ4Tt9rkf1D6NX315tUT85klJ6oTo7bQzXQXNWLxXirVMm_yoA18KO550GwZHVk5ECdFpBkek=s0-d)
To determine overall health of a single strand of a hair, a biological microscope can be used. The images below were captured with the
National Optical 131-CLED student microscope and a Nikon camera.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uFgDW_zV8cABadu6qpcZXQePLtiX8dQ2EiSZ6TW_IOXnvUnRAFbiyJt5A11oaOjCkubZBFoCiTVjtJtt9O8d6dYGriHDpwP9348xlWJuvxkq-rJvojbMWkxKLr2dHvB0TKarY_Mc3WT_YR15nEQa5Jrvph=s0-d)
Single strand of hair at 100x magnification.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tuBkD1F9VbME3eKJr_BLDgrCQn3NJGIxqhoZ6lN0ff5S95m3ZC5MVtN7D7iCpduRPQ_VGVwRJpGhLyf7JBsfZUZ6SZY2tfB9Cre39g6_VeDhHTzUdqJSCB9oacrTZibsVKPvA4eD-YxIXK4-GFqyhQxEAIfw=s0-d)
Single strand of hair at 1000x magnification. Notice the lines within the strand of hair - you can see the healthy structure of the cells. An unhealthy strand of hair would have broken bits and pieces coming off the strand of hair.