Today's blog uncovers the real science behind hair growth. My experience with making hair growth products brought me in contact with different types of people. Many people I come across are concerned with hair thinning. Many of them have been applying things like onion juice and garlic juice to their hair in the hope of growing them.
Some trust the power of coconut oil, and some opt for detox diet treatments to grow healthy hair. Others believe their hair grows better when they trim it regularly. Finally, some think that their hair grows best on its own when left entirely untouched.
So, how exactly does the hair grow?
Despite whatever your beliefs are, hair growth happens in a very scientific way, commonly known as the hair growth cycle. Understanding the hair growth cycle is the first step towards getting longer and fuller hair.
To understand the hair growth cycle, we must first understand the structure of our hair. Yes, those thin strands have a biological structure of their own. Each strand of hair is divided into two parts; the hair follicle and the hair shaft.
The hair follicle is the part of the hair that remains in the scalp and holds the upper hair shaft. A hair follicle contains a few more supporting parts:
1. The bulb: The bulb is located right under the hair strand and contains active cells needed for hair growth.
2. The papilla: Papilla provides blood supply needed for healthy hair growth.
The hair shaft (upper or visible part of the hair) is made up of keratin protein and has a protective layer called the cuticle.
The hair growth cycle:
There are over 100,000 hair strands in our scalp. Each hair strand follows the hair growth cycle, which involves growing from the root to finally shedding the hair. Technically this process is divided into three phases.
1. The Anagen phase:
Anagen is the phase of active hair growth. Cells are produced rapidly in the bulb resulting in the steady growth of hair strand. This phase can last 2-7 years, depending on the length of your hair, your age, and your general health.
2. The Catagen phase:
In this phase, the hair strand detaches itself from the blood supply and stops growing. This phase lasts only 2-3 weeks. The hair strand in this stage is called club hair.
3. The Telogen phase:
The club hair rests in the root in this stage while new hair starts to grow under it. This phase lasts for three months. After three months, the club hair falls, and new hair comes out of the hair follicle.
At any given point in time, 80-90% of our hair is in the anagen phase. It is the reason we do not see any significant difference in our hair even when it goes through the catagen and Telogen phases.
When do we experience hair loss?
We experience hair loss when the duration of the anagen phase is reduced. Since all the hair growth occurs in the anagen phase, our hair needs to be in the anagen phase for longer durations. It is possible by following a healthy diet and using the right hair care products.
One such hair product is our Revitalize natural hair growth oil treatment. It is 100% safe and contains only natural ingredients. It strengthens hair follicles and helps thicken thin hair. Besides, Revitalize also works on delivering optimal nutrition, scalp circulation, strengthening, and multi-level nourishment to improve hair's overall appearance.
