In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is necessary

to know about hair. This article discusses general facts

about human hair, hair structure and growth.

The average human adult body has an astounding 5 million

hairs of which 100,000 to 150,000 are on the scalp. True

blondes have more hair on the scalp - 140,000 hairs than

brunettes (105,000 hairs) or redheads (90,000 hairs). Hair

is made up of a protein called Keratin. Keratin is also a

constituent of our nails.

* Hair around the world

Hair color and texture differ around the world. Asians have

jet-black hair whereas Scandinavians have varying shades of

browns and reds to the pale blonde. There are generally

three racial groups with three types of hair.

1. Oriental - People from Japan and China have straight and

black hair.

2. Caucasoid - This group is varied and a mixture of

several racial groups. The hair colors range from black to

blonde. The hair can be wavy or straight.

3. African - African people have black hair that is tightly

curled. It is woolly and dry. Heat or chemicals can easily

damage this type of hair.

* Hair structure

Some part of hair is hidden under the skin, while the rest

is seen outside the body. The part of hair hidden under the

skin is the hair follicle. There are tiny blood vessels at

the base of the follicle that provides nutrition to the

hair.

Sebaceous glands secrete sebum that keeps the hair shiny

and waterproof to some extent. At the root of the hair

follicle is the papilla, which is where the hair grows.

Hair follicles are formed when the baby is still in the

womb.

After birth, there is no new growth of hair follicles. The

hair strand itself consists of three layers. The outermost

layer called the cuticle is thin. The middle layer called

the cortex is thick. The cortex provides the hair its

strength, color and determines whether hair will be wavy or

straight.

* Hair Growth

The hair grows at the rate of 12 millimeters every month.

Hair grows the best between 10 AM to 11 AM and again

between 4 PM to 6 PM. It is also generally known that hair

grows faster in summer than winter. Hair grows the best

between the ages of 15 to 30 and slows down from the age of

40 onwards. Both genders start natural hair loss in 50s.

Hair rejuvenation takes place on a daily basis. Hair grows

and sheds. You normally shed 50 to 100 hairs per day. Any

loss above that or visible patches of baldness are a cause

for worry and can be classified as hair loss.

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