About Hair

Out of the 100,000 - 150,000 hairs on our head we lose about 30 - 100 hairs daily and these are replaced. It is when we are losing and they are not being replaced causes an emotional feeling that can lead some people to desperation. Both men and women lose hair but due to different causes.

Hair is made from two types of a protein called Keratin I and Keratin II. Hair grows from follicles. Each follicle has its own cycle. It produces about six inches (15cm) of hair in a year for about four years. It then falls out and after a short period the whole cycle starts again. At the base of the hair, at the scalp, is an outgrowth called a papilla. This contains blood vessels that supply nutrients to the hair. It is when 80% of hair are not in the growing phase that the person has hair thinning. Sometimes this is temporary due to stress, hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause, medicines or medical condition or treatment, unbalanced diet, scalp infection, harsh chemicals of shampoos being used or inappropriate hair styling. In each of these events the body reduces or stops the supply of essential nutrients to the hair resulting in hair growth retarding and eventually hair becoming thinner until hair stops growing altogether. Quite often the condition can be reversed.