Book excerpt: The examination of human hairs in the forensic science setting is a highly specialist forensic discipline. To date the topic has not been covered in a single volume in which all aspects of hair examination are brought together. In this volume an international group of authors have dealt with all aspects of the examination of human hair. The volume opens with the basic foundation accidence covering the physiology, growth and structure of hair. Forensic specific aspects of hair structure are then dealt with and a protocol for examination is presented. The remaining chapters deal with non microscopy approaches to hair examination covering historical and contemporary knowledge. These chapters include biochemical approaches to hair examination,