How Does Hair Growth Work?

You’ve been using a hair straightener for years and you’ve probably had varying results as you adjust your method throughout time, but there is one question you have that is probably eluding you like mad: how does hair work? No, we’re not talking about the hair straightener or any of the professional flat irons.

Instead, we’re talking about the hair itself. You know that it grows, and you know that you have to take care of it, but what’s the story and biology behind it? In today’s article, we’re going to go in depth, discussing what hair is, what it’s made of, and how it grows. It’s all pretty fascinating, and it’s essential knowledge if you’re going to encourage growth.

What is Hair?

The first thing you need to know, sit hat hair grows from pockets on your skin known as follicles. So how does it work? How does it happen? It begins with the hair grows up from the root at the bottom of the follicle, and the root is made up of protein. Behind the scenes, blood in your scalp feeds the root, creating additional cells and allowing the hair to continue growing.

As the hair grows, it is pushed through the skin, with oil from a gland being added along the way. Ideally, the oil will keep your hair soft, but it can cause greasiness, which is why it is essential that you keep your hair clean. Another interesting thing to note is that while oil is intended to keep the hair hydrated to a point, it will fail in this regard if you have curly hair, which means you’re going to need to use additional product.

The Rest of the Body

The preceding paragraph was for the scalp, but there are other parts of the body to consider as well, even if you’re not going to be using a professional hair straightener on them. Over the rest of your body, the hair goes through the exact same process, but the cycle only lasts for a month. Because of that, the hair on your body does not grow as long as the hair on your head. There, now that question has finally been answered for you.

Hair is a Finite Resource

You do not generate new hair follicles; you are in fact born with all that you will ever have, numbering about five million. On your scalp, you have about 100,000 follicles (that’s for everyone who tells you that you can’t count the hair on your head), and overall, hair grows very fast. Male hair, for example, grows faster than female hair, but both are pretty swift In their development. The hair on your head will grow about six inches per year, so consider that even though it’s one of the fastest growing parts of the body, it is still going to take some time to develop.

If your goal is to grow your hair long then yes, it is going to take a while, and that applies to both sexes. Every day, you will lose between 50 and 100 hairs, because the follicles don’t all grow simultaneously. Across your scalp, each follicle will grow for a few years, and will then stop. During the break period, the hair in the follicle will fall out, but you won’t notice because your other hairs will continue growing. It is also important to keep in mind that some hairs will stop growing as you get older, which is why hair begins to thin and many people even go bald.

Your Hair is Unique

Your hair is unique to you, and it will develop in a way that suits you, and you alone. That being said, it is still important that you take care of it, no matter what the end result is. Check out our CareBox and our other HSI professional hair straightener products. We have superior products that will give you not only the look you want, but the hair health to back it up. Try it today!