Hair is made up of Keratin – a fibrous structural protein.

Hair also contains natural oils (lipids) and water. These hair “ingredients” are arranged in 3 primary structures: the cuticle (which is the outermost, shingle-like layer); the cortex (the inside of the hair consisting of bundles of protein filaments); and the medulla (a soft spongy-like core in the centre of the cortex)

The growth cycle of hair consists of 3 stages:

Anagen – It is the growing period of a hair follicle that typically lasts about 3 to 5 years.

Catagen – At the end of the growth period, hair follicles prepare themselves for the resting phase. This stage of the hair growth cycle usually lasts about 1 to 2 weeks.

Telogen – This is the resting period of a hair follicle. It is usually 3 to 4 months in length and at the end of this period older hairs that have finished their life will fall out and newer hairs will begin to grow.

The percentage of hair growth in each cycle is:
– Telogen: 10 – 15%
– Anagen: 85 – 90%
– Catagen: < 1%

On average 100 hairs are physiologically shed on a daily basis throughout the human scalp, at random. Certain common events can alter this shedding. For example, during pregnancy more follicles are maintained in the growing phase and there is less shedding than usual.

The Hair cycle is also subject to chronological influences. During the autumn months, it is possible that hair shedding may double, whilst during spring shedding is diminished. Both the duration and the daily growth rate of hair is greater during summer when compared to the winter months. We are able to summarize that the hair cycle consists of three phases, with the following characteristics:

The Anagen Phase – Growth Phase
– Approximately 85-90% of all hair are in the growing phase at any one time.
– It can vary from two to six years.
– Hair grows approximately 10-15cm per year.

The Catagen Phase – Transitional phase
– Takes place at the end of the Anagen phase Lasts around one or two weeks.
– The hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length.
– The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to rest below

The Telogen Phase – Resting phase
– Follows the Catagen phase and normally lasts about 5-6 weeks.
– At any given instance in time, approximately 10-15% of all hair follicles are in this phase.
– The hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle.
– The dermal papilla stays in a resting phase below

By far the most common cause of hair loss in men is “Androgenetic Alopecia” also referred to as “male pattern hair loss” or “common” baldness. Androgenic Alopecia is due to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acting on genetically-susceptible scalp hair follicles that causes them to become progressively smaller and eventually disappear. This process is called “miniaturization.” The other causes can be Stress, scalp bacteria, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalance, injury and high fever (e.g. Malaria)

The various types of Alopecia are:

1. Androgenetic Alopecia
2. Alopecia Areata
3. Traction Alopecia
4. Scarring Alopecia
5. Trichotillomania
6. Triangular Alopecia
7. Telogen Effluvium
8. Loose – Anagen Syndrome

Hair grows approximately 10 – 15cm per year.

In general, the length of any human beings hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter.

Hair color is the pigmentation of hair follicles due to two types of melanin:

1. Eumelanin – pigment which gives Black or Brown colour.
2. Pheomelanin – pigment which gives Red colour to the hair.

With the reduction of Eumelanin and Pheomelanin, the melamine that causes pigmentation in hair, hair turns grey. The loss of melamine causes the hair to turn white.

Shaving your hair doesn’t increase the thickness or quality of the hair. At first it looks thick, as at the roots, the hair looks denser. As the length grows, it looks the same as before.

Each follicle can grow many hairs over a lifetime. On average, each grows a new hair around twenty times.

Hair is strong as a wire of iron. It rips after applying a force equivalent to 60 kg, only after it is stretched for about 70%. A single strand can support 100 grams in weight.

The massive production of the hormone Estrogen during pregnancy puts hair follicles into their ‘growth phase’. After the birth, the hormonal balance is restored and the hair follicles go into the ‘loss phase’, causing a large number of hairs to fall out at once.

The hair quality and growth rate highly depends on the race:

1. African hair grows more slowly and is more fragile than European hair.
2. Asian hair grows the fastest and has the greatest elasticity.
3. African and European people are more prone to balding than Asian people.

What is the average number of follicles per sq. cm in adults?

The average number of hair follicles per sq. cm. in adults is

– 20 to 30 yrs – 615/cm2
– 30 to 50 yrs – 485/cm2
– 80 to 90 yrs – 435/cm2

Approximately 85 – 90% of all hair are in the growing phase at any one time.

Vellus hairs, also known as “peach fuzz” in the urban dictionary, are fine, short, light-colored or translucent, and non-pigmented hairs that develop from childhood and are found on most areas of the body. Their growth is not, in contrast to terminal hairs, affected or dictated by hormones. Vellus hairs are usually no longer than two millimeters, and their follicles are not associated with sebaceous glands.

No, Both grey and black hair can be transplanted and grow naturally.