Hair is alive, but it does not growth continuously forever. A hair will grow for a period of time, and the growth will be temporarily suspended, and later this hair will become loose and finally it will fall. Don ’t be scared since new hair will grow after falling of the old hair. The growth cycle repeats itself.
The scalp has an average of 100,000 to 350,000 hair follicles. Hair follicle can grow hair fibers, but it does not mean that every hair follicle can produce or grow hair. Some hair follicle has the role of oxygen taking and waste excretion. Asian people have an average of 100,000 hair follicles. Hair root attaches to the hair follicle underneath the scalp. Hair follicle protects the hair root and supply blood and nutrient to the hair by the microvascular at the bottom of the follicles.
Glands are surrounding each hair follicle and they can secrete a fat called sebum. Sebum can make the hair looks shiny and have waterproof function. However, excessive sebum will block hair follicles and lead to baldness. That is why when people become bald, you may find their head scalp look shiny and oily.
There are hundreds of thousands of genes in human body, each of the genes specializes in the manufacture of a special protein, and these proteins play their own particular functions. Physiological functions of the human body are implemented or regulated by these proteins.
How a hair is grown:
Hair is part of the human tissue. It is formed by cell division in the hair follicles. Hair cells increase in multiple numbers and grow from hair follicle to skin
Two major factors lead to hair cell growth:
- Only natural nutrients that are similar to those produced in human cells can enter the cell membrane
- Must have twice of the cell’s ingredients in order to grow into two cells, otherwise it is indispensable
Hair Growth Cycle
Anagen (Development period)
Hair does not grown at the same time together but each of them has its own independent growth cycle. A hair will grow for five years or less. For a growth rate of half-inch per month, a hair will grow to 30 inches length or longer.
Catagen (Suspend period)
After hair has grown and past the Anagen, the hair will enter quiescent (Catagen) and it will stay in this status for 2-3 weeks. Hair will stop growing and will detach from the root of hair follicle. As a result, it can not absorb nutrients from the blood vessels.
Telogen (Aging period)
Upon completion of quiescent (Catagen), followed by shedding period, hair is holding in the hair follicle and will still attach to the hair roots for twelve weeks or so. It will become loose and will finally fall when the new hair is grown. Once new hair is grown, new hair will repeat the growth cycle. |
