In which layer of the skin are hair follicles located?

Hair follicles are located in the reticular dermis, which is the deeper layer of the dermis, situated beneath the more superficial papillary dermis. The reticular dermis is characterized by dense irregular connective tissue, which provides strength and elasticity, and houses the majority of the skin's structures, including hair follicles, sweat glands, oil glands, and blood vessels.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and does not contain hair follicles, while the stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis made up of dead skin cells that are in the process of being shed. The subcutaneous layer, also known as the hypodermis, lies beneath the dermis and serves as a fat storage layer and a cushion for the underlying structures, but it is not involved with hair follicles either. Therefore, identifying the correct location of hair follicles specifically points to the reticular dermis.