Abstract: Noninvasive methods for monitoring at least one hair characteristic on a human or animal comprise magnifying a predetermined skin area having reference indicia to provide a first magnified image, digitally capturing the first magnified image to form a reference image, after a predetermined time period, magnifying the predetermined skin area to provide a second magnified image, and superimposing the second magnified image on the reference image to align the reference indicia in the second magnified image with the reference indicia in the reference image. Apparatus for noninvasive monitoring of at least one hair characteristic on a human or animal comprise a fiber optic remote head microscope, means for digitally capturing a first magnified image provided by the microscope to form a reference image, and means for superimposing a second magnified image provided by the microscope on the reference image and aligning reference indicia in the second magnified image with reference indicia in the reference image.