We present a review of the literature on procedures for obtaining short tandem repeat (STR) genotypes from keratinised hair, being either hair shaft or telogen phase (naturally shed) hairs without associated scalp, follicle or sheath cells. Both the hair shaft and the telogen hair club have been subjected to the DNA-degrading keratinisation process and are more likely to be found at a crime scene than anagen (plucked) or catagen phase hairs. We discuss human hair structure, the human hair growth cycle, the keratinisation process and their implications for DNA extraction procedures, PCR amplification strategies and the interpretation of STR genotypes. Knowledge gaps and areas requiring research are identified and are the subject of a second article in this series.