Newsletter: June 2010 #50

iAremyhair believes in giving our customers ample information so that they can make wise decisions regarding hair loss treatment.

For this purpose, we will be introducing a series of topics that offer insight and objective viewpoints. Topics range from basics of hair to hair loss causes to treatment options to other related and interesting issues.

To ensure that our readers get the most out of our newsletters, we have condensed information from established publications and online reference materials such that each topic can be easily digested. iAremyhair invites you on this journey and welcomes your comments.

TIME TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR HAIR

To understand something thoroughly, one needs to start from the basics. This article is going to provide some fundamental truth about our hair. Hair itself is not a living cell but the hair follicles are very much alive. Hair is made of a protein called keratin, which is also the same protein that hardens nails. Hair covers most of the human body except the palms and soles.


Did you know?

Scalp hair follicles tend to have a longer growth phase than eyelash follicles.

Trivia : Why do we have hair?

Protects our head... Keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer... Protects against sunburn... It has nerve endings that make a scalp massage feel good and yet tells you when a mosquito lands on your arm...etc...

TWO main types of human hair

Vellus hair

Can be so fine that they are almost invisible except under close microscopic inspection.

Terminal Hair

Coarser
Longer
More Visible

Each strand of hair consists of THREE layers

Cuticle

  • The outer layer.
  • Thin and has no colour.
  • Protects the thicker cortex which contains melanin, the pigment that colours your hair.

Cortex

  • The middle layer.
  • The shape of the cortex in cross section determines whether hair will be straight, wavy or curly.

Medulla

  • The innermost layer.
  • Reflects light and therefore gives hair its colour tones.

THREE phases of hair growth



Did you know?

The average head has 100,000 hair follicles and
they can all be in a different growth phase.

Anagen

  • The 'growing' phase of a hair follicle.
  • Scalp hairs grow about one-half inch per month for a period ranging from 4 to 6 years.
  • This is a rapid rate of cellular growth compared to most other tissues in the body.
  • At any given time, 90 percent of your hairs are in the growing phase.

Catagen

  • The 'regression' phase of a hair follicle.
  • The hair stops growing and the hair follicle starts shrinking.
  • The lower part of the hair follicle slowly disintegrates and requires less nourishment from the blood supply.
  • This phase lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks.

Telogen

  • The 'resting' phase of a hair follicle.
  • The follicle appears inactive and the hair shaft may also be shed during this period.
  • Normal hair loss in this cycle is between fifty to a hundred strands per day.
  • This phase lasts for 3 months or so before the hair follicle enters the anagen phase again.

Reference Materials

Kobren, Spencer David, "The Bald Truth". USA : Pocket Books, 1998.

Panagotacos, Peter J, M.D. "Hair Loss Answers". USA : Author's Publishing Cooperative, 2005.