Hair is a filamentous outgrowth of the skin found in humans and other mammals. It services a number of purposes by providing insulation from heat/cold, giving color to the skin and enhancing beauty.
Hair grows from the new hair cells in side the follicles. Continuous cell formation pushes the old cells out as the hair we see. A follicle produces new cells for a certain period of time depending on its location in the body. As long as the follicle produces new cells the hair grows. It is called the Growth Phase. Then the follicle stops new cell production for certain period (Rest Phase) and resumes the growth again.
In the rest phase the hair shaft breaks, so the existing hair falls out and a new hair takes its place. Therefore, the length of the hair is determined by its growth phase. Hair on arm remains short due to its short growth phase (few months). Hair on head is generally long due to its longer growth phase (few years). Normally, human hair grows ˝” a month. Average human scalp contains 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and sheds 50 to 100 hairs daily. Generally a hair has 3 to 6 year lifespan.
Hair growth is controlled by proteins, hormones, vitamins and other supplements. Though balanced diet ensures nutrition for hair, hair loss/thinning/baldness is largely determined by hereditary. Generally, both males and females start loosing hair while they age, owing to hereditary and/or irregular/imbalanced diet.
Phases of Hair Growth in Human
Phase 1 – Anagen: It is the ‘on’ phase and lasts for approximately 1,000 days. In this phase hair cells grow rapidly to produce hair shaft from the follicle, which is rooted deeply in the scalp. The length of anagen determines the maximum length of your hair.
Phase 2 – Catagen: It is the regressive/transitional phase and lasts for 1 to 2 weeks. In this phase hair stops growing and the hair follicle shrinks.
Phase 3 – Telogen: It is the ‘off’ or resting phase. In this phase the old telogen hair dies out.
At any given time, around 90% of one’s hair are in ‘growing phase’ or anagen phase and 10% are in the ‘resting phase’ or telogen.
Natural and Artificial Hair Growth
There is nothing like artificial hair growth, hair (even implanted hair) always grows. Hair growth treatments by dietary supplements, vitamins, hormones can be artificial or natural. Natural
Formulation to treat scalp and hair, hair conditioning products, soaps and shampoos are artificial to great extent. Often proclaimed “pure, natural & herbal” hair care products are not free from synthetic ingredients.
Hair Growth and Self Esteem
Everyone is obsessed with hair growth. Hair is associated with male and female beauty in all ways. That’s hair designing has become a special discipline in cosmetic beauty. Hair cuts, good or bad, definitely reflects ones personality and attitude.
Hair Growth and Hair Complications
Baldness, thinning, messiness, losing gloss, ill-texture and whitening are the usual hair complications. Some of these can be cured by applying hair conditioning shampoos, whereas others may require lengthy procedures.
Hair regrowth and hair transplant both are tedious and cost-intensive. The better hair care for anyone is that he/she should take care of while the hair is growing steadily and the thinning is not yet begun. Proteinous diet and maintaining a healthy scalp minimizes the hair complications. Making the thin hair lushy is a difficult job, but hair growth cycle potential can be improved.
The Need of Hair Growth
Clinically, faster hair growth or natural hair growth or the popular terms. This means we are trying to influence the speed of hair growth and to stop the hair falling early. Clinically, hair growth is necessary for cosmetic reasons, as hair shapes one’s looks. This does not mean that one should spare time in the saloon during hair growth process. Hair growth is a very slow process. The results of hair growth can be substantial after at least 90 days. Hair growth is also influenced by vitamins and other supplements. The lush of hair can be maintained by choosing a perfect hair cut.
Illness and Female Hair Growth
Sometimes, we start to loose hair due to hormonal imbalances or due to chemotherapy and other illnesses. Generally, in these situations the hair growth process slows down.
Hair regrowth process can be started after the treatment of the illness is over. In case the hair has already thinned choose a hair cut that is stylish and gives a lush look.
After understanding the hair growth process, one can give a positive thrust to hair growth. Usually, hair thinning is noticeable in case of short of anagen and long telogen phase. In women the hair thinning is marked by changes in hormonal levels.
Hair growth, or conversely, hair loss process in women is similar to that of in men. The most common female hair growth problems are telogen effluvium, alopecia areata and female pattern baldness.
Biology Of Hair Growth
Phases of Hair Growth in Human
Hair Growth Process