What Is Hair?
Hair is composed mainly of protein. Like skin, it is alive. However, it has no blood vessels or nerves. Except in albinos, all hair contains pigmentation. Each hair shaft actually has several layers that bond together to form a strand of hair. The cuticle is the top layer of each strand. It holds the other layers together and prevents damage.
The hair follicle is a miniature sac that holds the root of each hair. Follicles are below the surface of the skin on your scalp (and your body). Blood vessels in the hair follicle supply nutrients to your hair through its roots.
Days in the Life of a Hair – Hair phases
Anagen – the hair is growing. Barring any illness, trauma, and damage, it will continue to grow for an average of five years.
Catagen – the hair is resting, but has not fully retired. This phase signals the transition from active life, the end of the growth phase.
Telogen – the hair is dead. It cannot grow any longer and it will soon fall out of the scalp.
What is Normal Hair Growth?
The average person has more than 100,000 hairs on their head. About 100 of these die each day. Shedding a few hairs daily is normal. Within six months, a new hair will replaces each of the ones that died.
Most people’s hair grows a half inch to one inch per month. After a hair is one foot long, its growth rate drops to 50% of the initial rate. Each hair that lives five years could be 20 inches long before it dies. Females between 16 and 24 have a faster rate of hair growth than anyone else.
Help Your Hair Keep Growing
Avoid excessive handling of your hair and harsh shampoos. Your hair does not have a job, so you really do not need to wash it with laundry detergent!
Hair feels rough, instead of smooth when dry, a symptom of cuticle damage. Your hairdresser cannot repair cuticle damage, commonly called split ends. Get a haircut. Remove the damaged ends.
Condition your hair regularly. This helps it hold moisture and retain flexibility. More flexibility means less cuticle damage. Less damage equals more growth.