Human hair helps people to feel natural and beautiful. Hair that is beautiful and soft in texture can be a joy to behold, in women and men.
The movement of hair is very unique and this cannot be duplicated in synthetic hair. Human hair is extremely flexible. It is adaptable and can be changed in many ways.
Facts
- The human head contains an average of 100,000 hairs on it and according to the research whether the hair is black, blond, straight, wavy, curly, thick or thin, all are made up of same components.
- Human hair is made up of keratin which is also found in animal feathers, hoofs, claws as well as fingernails.
- It is interesting to keep in mind that about 10 to 13 percent of hair is made up of water.
- The rate of hair growth in average person is one half inch per month.
What is human hair made of ?
The human hair is made up of tough protein. In the skin the hair follicle anchors hairs. The base of the hair follicle is formed with the hair bulb. And the hair shaft is formed due to the living cells which divide and help to grow in the hair bulb. The hair bulb is nourished by the blood vessels. At different times of life, hormones are delivered and help in the modification of hair growth as well as the structure of the hair.
Three phases of hair growth
The growth of hair consists of three phases
- The first phase due to which hair growth is possible. This phase is known as Anagen which is the active stage and helps to build up the fiber. In this phase hair spends more than 7 years.
- The second phase is the transitional phase known as catagen. In this phase hair stops growing around 10-20 days . Growth of the hair slows down and the hair follicle also shrinks.
- The third phase is the resting phase known as telogen. In this phase the old hair detaches from the hair follicle. The growth of the hair begins with this phase and it pushes the new hair to come out.
Features
- Human hair consists of three parts and the cortex is the main part , which holds the cells and gives colour to the hair.
- Medulla is the second part which is almost invisible to humans.
- The cuticle is the third and outer layer of hair. If the cuticle is not taken care of then it will get damaged and the hair can look dull and out of condition.
Misconceptions about Human Hair
People often have misconceptions about hair that is oily. But basically it is the sebaceous glands in the scalp that makes the oil seep out into the hair. However this oil is good and essential for hair and helps your hair to stay shiny as well as healthy. The term greasy and oily hair is due to the activity of the sebaceous glands.
