The　content　of　lead　in　human　hair　was　measured　by　high　resolution　continuum　source　graphite　furnace　atomic　absorption　spectrometry　(HR-CS　GFAAS)　combined　with　microwave-assisted　digestion　(MAD)　and　direct　solid　sampling　(DSS).　Hair　strands　were　washed,　dried,　and　then　cut　into　three　parts　(root,　middle　portion,　and　tip).　For　MAD-GFAAS　assays,　approximately　0.25　g　of　hair　was　completely　digested　using　a　mixture　of　concentrated　nitric　acid　and　hydrogen　peroxide　in　a　closed　system.　In　the　DSS-GFAAS　assays,　0.1-0.2　mg　of　dried　hair　was　directly　introduced　into　a　graphite　furnace　using　a　solid　autosampler.　The　temperature　programs　were　optimized　and　the　effects　of　various　added　modifiers　were　compared.　The　results　indicated　that　NH4H2PO4　was　the　optimal　modifier　for　analysis　of　Pb　using　GFAAS.　Use　of　the　optimal　modifier　and　temperature　program　gave　similar　limits　of　detection　for　MAD-GFAAS　and　DSS-GFAAS　of　1.16　ng/g　and　0.82　ng/g,　respectively.　Both　methods　also　produced　satisfactory　recoveries　ranging　from　98.69%　to　103.14%.　There　was　no　significant　difference　observed　between　the　Pb　contents　of　hair　strands　determined　by　the　MAD-GFAAS　and　DSS-GFAAS　assays,　which　both　indicated　that　the　Pb　levels　increased　along　the　hair　strands.　Comparison　of　the　two　methods　revealed　that　DSS-GFAAS　had　several　advantageous　characteristics　over　MAD-GFAAS,　including　the　need　for　much　less　sample　material　and　having　a　less　time-consuming　procedure,　lower　sample　blank　absorbance,　lower　memory　effect,　and　no　risk　of　environmental　pollution　by　digesting　chemicals.　The　direct　solid　sampling　technique　can　be　employed　as　a　good　alternative　to　conventional　wet　digestion　in　AAS　assays.