Nothing in life is as simple as it seems, so it should come as no surprise that the strand of hair that you found on your brush this morning is an amazingly complex part of your body. Hair begins appearing on the human body while it is still in the womb. By the time a developing fetus reaches 22 weeks old, there are already 5 million follicles on the body. Interestingly enough, that is all of the follicles that will ever develop regardless of how long we live. None will ever be added.
Key Points
Hair Anatomy
Hair consists of a follicle, which is embedded in the skin, and the shaft of hair which appears on our body. The follicle itself consists of multiple layers with each layer having a specific function. The papilla lies at the base of the follicle. Capillaries are connected to the papilla and they supply blood to the cells which surround the bottom part of the hair strand called the bulb.
Surrounding the follicle are two sheaths, inner and outer, which are designed to both protect the hair shaft from damage, and to help it grow out in the proper direction. The inner sheath runs next to the hair shaft and ends at the oil (sebaceous) gland. The outer sheath runs to the gland and ends at the erector pili muscle. This is the muscle that causes our hair to “stand on end” when it contracts.
The hair shaft is comprised of three layers of dead protein cells called keratin. The innermost layer, known as the medulla, is not always present in every hair shaft. The second layer, known as the cortex, provides the bulk of the hair shaft. The hair color is mostly determined by the pigmentation contained in this layer. The outermost layer is called the cuticle. It is comprised of a series of overlapping cells. The hair’s luster and sheen comes from the cuticle.
How Hair Grows
Scalp hair grows at an average rate of six inches per year, or only. 3-.4 mm per day. There are three distinct stages of hair growth.
Catagen Phase
This transitional phase runs about two to three weeks. At any given time approximately 3% of your hair is in this phase. There is no hair growth during this period while the out portion of the hair root sheath shrinks and attaches itself to the root.
Telogen Phase
This phase, known as the “resting period” is experienced by approximately 15% of your hair. Telogen lasts for around 100 days for scalp hair and significantly longer for other body hair.
Anagen Phase
This phase defines a period of activity where the hair cells are dividing and new hair growth occurs. This phase can last for as long as two to six years. Shorter growth periods are indicative of people who have trouble growing their hair long.
Hair Growth Disorders
There are two hair growth disorders that affect humans. Hirsutism is a condition affecting mostly females. It is defined as a condition where excessive thick and dark hair growth is experienced in areas typically reserved for males. These areas include the face, chest and the areolae or area surrounding the nipple. Hypertrichosis is a condition which causes excessive hair growth in areas of the body where visible hair is not normally present. Both of these conditions are treatable.
Hair problems cannot be ignored.
If you notice abnormal hair fall, or growth, or excessive dryness of your hair and scalp and dandruff that refuses to clear, you need to contact a trichologist as soon as possible. Hair problems are the first sign that something is going wrong with you internally.
Different hair conditions such as dull hair, split ends, greasy hair can be early warning signals for a variety of different problems or deficiencies. Therefore, problems with our hair should be taken seriously, because they are reflective of problems within.
- Dry & brittle hair could be a sign of deficiencies in protein, vitamin A, zinc, essential fatty acid & Thyroid Issues
- Oily & greasy hair means deficiencies in zinc, folic acid & Vitamin B6 deficiency
- Coarse hair means deficiency in Protein &Vitamin A and possible hypothyroidism
- Split ends could be a sign of anaemia, iron deficiency & deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc
- Premature greying could be a sign of stress, hormone issues & deficiencies in B vitamins, copper, or folic acid
- Scalp disorders such as dandruff, seborrhea, psoriasis) may be due to fungal infection, Stress or deficiencies in B vitamins, zinc, essential fatty acid.
For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks
Habits for longer, Healthier hair
It’s not difficult to attain long and healthy hair. Hair stylist Chen says, “To ensure that you have a good hair growth, you must incorporate some essentials like washing your hair with cold water, including proteins in your diet and massaging your scalp every day.”
Here are a few tips…
Brush your hair
Brushing your hair at least 50 times a day will improve the blood circulation to your scalp. This also gives the hair follicles a force to grow. You must brush your hair for at least 10 minutes before you go to bed.
Rinse your hair with cold water
Says Chen, “Make sure that you wash your scalp with a blast of cold water after you’ve applied shampoo and conditioner. This will tighten the pores and improve blood circulation to your scalp.”
Go for a head massage:
Putting some pressure on your scalp will not only ease your stress and worries, but will also ensure that your scalp receives nutrition, leading to hair growth. You can either get a scalp massage done at home every week or visit a salon for a professional one every 15 days.
Oil your hair twice a week
Apart from getting your scalp massaged, you must also oil your hair every week. Oiling ensures that your hair gets nutrition, thus preventing hair fall.
Tie up your hair every night
Did you know that tying up your hair every night will protect your hair from friction with the pillows, thus preventing hair fall? It also ensures that you do not get split ends and your hair does not become rough.
Follow a protein-rich diet
Incorporate proteins like fish, meat and legumes in your diet to ensure that you have strong, healthy hair. Adds Chen, “Proteins are good for your scalp, as it increases the blood flow and also makes the roots stronger.”
For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks
Hair Growth vitamins and minerals
There a number of different specific hair vitamins and minerals that can play a major role in helping a person have a healthy head of hair. If a person does not have sufficient hair vitamins then the deficiencies can lead to thinning hair or even total baldness in the most severe cases. The fact is that the state of a person’s hair reflects the overall condition of their body. Extra hair vitamins are likely to be needed if a person is generally unwell or is undernourished as their hair will show damage too and may even stop growing.
Some of the most important hair vitamins that a person needs to have healthy hair include B6, biotin, inositol and folic acid. The best way to ensure that a person receives enough of these essential hair vitamins are for them to be taken as vitamin supplements. It is not just hair vitamins that are necessary for healthy hair though as there are a number of minerals that are essential, including magnesium, sulphur, silica and zinc.
The most essential hair vitamin is vitamin a but the best form of this is to include in the diet is beta-carotene. This is because the hair vitamin A can be toxic if consumed in large quantities but beta-carotene has no such problems and is converted by the body into vitamin A that can be used to promote healthy hair. Of course, vitamin A is not just a hair vitamin, it is also needed for a number of other functions including normal growth of bones, skin, nails and the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres.
Protein is another essential hair vitamin. This is because hair itself is essentially protein. The amount of this hair vitamin that a person consumes in their diet can affect the hair directly. If a lot of protein is included in a person’s diet then this hair vitamin will lead to improved hair growth and a far fuller head of hair. However, a person who has a diet that is lacking in this hair vitamin will suffer from thinning hair and slow hair growth.
Of course, it is not just hair vitamins and minerals that are needed to ensure that a person has healthy, strong hair. There are a number of researchers who have found that there are direct links between the overall health of a person and the condition of their hair. If a person is under a lot of stress or suffers from a lack of sleep then their hair is also likely to suffer and it is likely that their diet will not provide enough hair vitamins to counter these effects. Hair vitamin and mineral supplements can be the solution to weak and damaged hair.
Natural hair rinse for great hair
What do you do when you get a rash on skin? Apply a soothing cream. And when your skin flakes?
A moisturiser, isn’t it? But what would you do if the same problem happens in scalp? Use a shampoo or conditioner? Unfortunately the small contact time as well as high use of chemicals in these products does not make it so effective. “Also frequent shampooing leads to fading away if hair colour easily. Hence naturally prepared out the ones available, hair rinses are perfect answer to problems like itching, dryness flaking of scalp, retaining hair color and shine and also boosting hair growth,” says dermatologist Dr martin siel. These hair rinses have been known to naturally soften hair, add shine and increase luster. While some rinses need to be washed after 15 to 20 minutes, other hair rinses like the ones made from natural flowers like marigold, rose etc, can be left on for longer.
Egg yolk rinse: This is the age old remedy for dull, damaged, dry hair. Egg yolk is mixed with olive oil and applied on wet scalp and kept for some time. When rinsed off, hair feels smooth and well moisturised.
Beer rinse: Beer is a great conditioner for the hair and acts as a setting lotion. It adds vitality to hair and makes them voluminous.
Lemon hair rinse: Lemon works great for getting rid of the oily scalp and dandruff. But one has to be careful while using it as it can make the scalp very dry when overused.
Apple cider vinegar rinse: It works by balancing the scalp and hair pH, removing product build up and treating dry hair and dandruff. It also seals the hair cuticle, helping hair to retain moisture.
Herbal hair rinses: There are several herbal products which work wonders for the hair. Rosemary, tea tree help in clearing dandruff, peppermint, basil promote hair growth, Sage, marshmallow are used for dry hair and rosemary for oily hair.
Baldness Products and Treatment Scams
If you’re one of the millions of men and women who are balding, you’re probably paying an incredible amount of attention to the many companies touting products that will end your problems. Before you rush out to pay for the miracle cure, take a minute to evaluate the products and the companies.
One of the most important things to remember is your mom’s advice – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have eight hairs left on your entire head, a can of spray paint isn’t going to make those eight look like a full head of hair. While there’s some merit to the idea (mascara works roughly on the same principal and women with thinner eyelashes continue to use that product), use your common sense before you decide that this is going to be the answer to your balding problem.
Another point is to understand exactly what it is that you’re buying. If you pay close attention to some of the advertisements, you still end the session knowing that the company is touting a cure for balding but have no idea what that cure is. If you hear an advertisement that catches your interest, be sure you know some details about the product. If you don’t understand, ask. Any company that isn’t willing to answer your questions is probably in the midst of a scam that won’t work anyway. Also, don’t settle for techno-babble as an answer. Be sure you understand. Don’t be afraid of sounding stupid when searching for answers. It’s going to be worse if you pay $99.95 for this product that turns out to be tufts of hair and a bottle of super glue.
Surgery for balding is a pretty dramatic step. If you’re thinking of taking that step, find a reputable company to perform the procedure. The process has come a long way over the past few years, but you don’t want to pay for a transplant only to end up with tiny rows of hair that look like a doll’s head.
There’s no doubt that balding can be detrimental to self-esteem. Confidence can plummet with balding and finding a product that helps reverse that is vital to some people. The important part of this equation is to figure out why you want to address the problem and the lengths to which you’re willing to go. With some careful evaluation of the products and procedures available, you’re sure to find something that works with your lifestyle. But for some people, finding the self-confidence to simply go on is the more viable solution to balding.
