| Nothing in life is as simple as it seems, so it should | | | | luster and sheen comes from the cuticle.How Hair |
| come as no surprise that the strand of hair that you | | | | GrowsScalp hair grows at an average rate of six |
| found on your brush this morning is an amazingly | | | | inches per year, or only .3-.4 mm per day. There are |
| complex part of your body. Hair begins appearing on | | | | three distinct stages of hair growth.- Catagen |
| the human body while it is still in the womb. By the time | | | | PhaseThis transitional phase runs about two to three |
| a developing fetus reaches 22 weeks old, there are | | | | weeks. At any given time approximately 3% of your |
| already 5 million follicles on the body. Interestingly | | | | hair is in this phase. There is no hair growth during this |
| enough, that is all of the follicles that will ever develop | | | | period while the out portion of the hair root sheath |
| regardless of how long we live. None will ever be | | | | shrinks and attaches itself to the root.- Telogen |
| added.Hair AnatomyHair consists of a follicle, which is | | | | PhaseThis phase, known as the "resting period" is |
| embedded in the skin, and the shaft of hair which | | | | experienced by approximately 15% of your hair. |
| appears on our body. The follicle itself consists of | | | | Telogen lasts for around 100 days for scalp hair and |
| multiple layers with each layer having a specific | | | | significantly longer for other body hair.- Anagen |
| function. The papilla lies at the base of the follicle. | | | | PhaseThis phase defines a period of activity where |
| Capillaries are connected to the papilla and they supply | | | | the hair cells are dividing and new hair growth occurs. |
| blood to the cells which surround the bottom part of | | | | This phase can last for as long as two to six years. |
| the hair strand called the bulb.Surrounding the follicle | | | | Shorter growth periods are indicative of people who |
| are two sheaths, inner and outer, which are designed | | | | have trouble growing their hair long.Hair Growth |
| to both protect the hair shaft from damage, and to | | | | DisordersThere are two hair growth disorders that |
| help it grow out in the proper direction. The inner | | | | affect humans. Hirsutism is a condition affecting mostly |
| sheath runs next to the hair shaft and ends at the oil | | | | females. It is defined as a condition where excessive |
| (sebaceous) gland. The outer sheath runs to the gland | | | | thick and dark hair growth is experienced in areas |
| and ends at the erector pili muscle. This is the muscle | | | | typically reserved for males. These areas include the |
| that causes our hair to "stand on end" when it | | | | face, chest and the areolae or area surrounding the |
| contracts.The hair shaft is comprised of three layers | | | | nipple. Hypertrichosis is a condition which causes |
| of dead protein cells called keratin. The innermost layer, | | | | excessive hair growth in areas of the body where |
| known as the medulla, is not always present in every | | | | visible hair is not normally present. Both of these |
| hair shaft. The second layer, known as the cortex, | | | | conditions are treatable.Andrea Strachan has been in |
| provides the bulk of the hair shaft. The hair color is | | | | the beauty business for 25 Years. For more |
| mostly determined by the pigmentation contained in this | | | | information about hair growth and hair biology visit For |
| layer. The outermost layer is called the cuticle. It is | | | | info about the latest Sedu hair styles click here. |
| comprised of a series of overlapping cells. The hair's | | | | |