Information on the causes of dry, damaged hair and how promote healthy hair growth.

What is Hair Growth?

While many of us may wish for long, luscious, healthy hair, we are not always that lucky. Growing your hair requires time, effort and patience! Often people who have dry, damaged or very thin, limp hair struggle to grow their hair. This may partly be due to a poor diet, underlying diseases, hormonal changes, certain medications, hair treatments such as bleaching, dyeing, tight braiding, blow drying, straightening or hot curlers.

Most people are not even aware that the hair on their heads has a lifespan of their own and that shedding of hair is normal, natural and healthy. To understand how your hair works, you firstly have to understand the anatomy of hair and how hair grows.

Anatomy of Hair

Hair is composed of two basic structures – the follicle which is found in the skin and the hair shaft lies above the skin. The follicle consists of several layers and each layer has its own specific functions. At the base of the follicle is a stocking-like structure called papilla which contain capillaries and supply blood to the cells.

The hair shaft is made up of three layers of dead, hard protein called keratin. The innermost layer is called the medulla and may not always be present in the hair shaft. The cortex is situated in the second layer and makes up most of the hair shaft – this is part of the hair that provides bounce and curl.

Pigment cells that are spread throughout the cortex determine the color of your hair. The outermost layer is known as the cuticle and is responsible for the hair’s luster and sheen.

Hair Growth Cycle

There are three phases of the hair growth cycle – anagen, catagen and telagen phases.

Anagen (growing) phase is defined as the growing or the ‘on’ phase where the hair cells grow faster - hair cells divide and new hair growth occurs. The anagen phase normally lasts for approximately 1000 days, as long as two to six years. The length of the anagen phase determines how long your hair will grow.

Catagen (transitional) phase also often referred to as the transitional phase runs about two to three weeks. During this period, your hair stops growing and the hair follicle shrinks and stops growing.

Telagen (dormant) phase is the final resting or dormant phase which lasts for about five to six weeks. During this phase hair may fall out or remain connected to the hair follicle until the growth of new hair forces it out. This usually occurs when you brush or comb your hair or notice stray hairs in the bath. Approximately 10 to 15% of a person’s hair is experienced during the telogen phase.

Hair Growth Disorders

There are two types of hair growth disorders known as hirsutism and hypertrichosis. Hirsutism is a condition which predominantly affects women where abundant thick and dark hair growth occurs in areas of the body mostly found on men – face, chest and areola. Hypertrichosis is a condition which results in excessive hair growth in areas of the body where visible hair is not normally present.

More Information on Hair Growth