For a long time, hair follicle development could be studied on the morphological level only. Now that molecular genetics is coming of age, we are beginning to understand the molecular basis of hair follicle development. The study of inherited hair disorders and basic research have both contributed to our insights and exciting developments can be expected in the near future. Here, we present a compact overview of the essential players in hair development and propose a simple model of the genetic interactions in the hair follicle.