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Photo Credit: Plush Studios/Getty Image
What's up with our hair? What direction does it grow in? Can wearing a pony tail all the time make us go bald? What does our hair say about our health? Read on to find the answers to these questions and some hair fun facts!
True or False? Hair Can Become Immune to Shampoo
FALSE. Shampoo will always do its job: clean. So why does it seem like your favorite bottle suddenly stops working? "Shampoo contains ingredients that condition and provide styling benefits, but it can also leave a residue that builds up," says Desai. If you start to notice dullness, use a clarifying shampoo (try Nexxus Aloe Rid Gentle clarifying shampoo, $11; at drugstores) once or twice a month to remove accumulated product -- any more often and you could strip hair of its healthy natural oils.
True or False? Coloring Can Change Your Hair's Texture
TRUE. Temporarily, of course -- but sometimes for the better. Permanent color removes the protective layer on your hair and lifts the cuticles so dyes are able to penetrate, says Desai, while semipermanent dye deposits color onto hair and is less harsh. Both methods have benefits, says N.Y.C. trichologist David H. Kingsley: "Color can swell the hair shaft and give it body." The change is especially noticeable on women with fine or thinning hair, as well as those with gray roots.
True or False? Wearing a Ponytail in the Same Area Can Give You a Bald Spot
TRUE. "The effect is called traction alopecia. The constant tugging by a tight band can scar hair follicles and cause them to stop growing new hair," says Doris Day, a dermatologist in N.Y.C. She suggests switching pony positions daily to alleviate tension. Tie back hair with a soft elastic band and wrap the ponytail as loosely as possible, suggests Desai. It's not just ponytails that can be the culprit, either -- headbands, braids and barrettes may result in similar damage when repeatedly worn in the same spot.
So What Makes Us Go Gray?
Okay, so it has nothing to do with how healthy we are or "unhealthy" we are. Although I was in an health food store once where an employee told me how taking a copper supplement would stave off the grays. I thought to myself, "honey, I wouldn't need that, my hair is a different color once every 6 months or so anyways all thanks to L'Oreal!" So anyhow, back to the question........so what does make us go gray? As we age there is a decrease in melanin production in the hair bulb (root). So when new hair grows in, it grows in with less or no pigment at all sweeeeeeet thanks melanin your awesome for crapping on us when we get older! Now, how fast you actually go gray depends on your parents, as this is genetic. So if they went gray early..........guess what sherlock? Yup that means your gonna gray early. Thanks mom and dad!! You guys rock!!
Gray hair fun fact: Graying happens most rapidly in caucasians of which 50% will go 50% gray by the age of 50. (lot of "50's" eh?)
To Shed or Not To Shed That is The Question
Leaving hair wookies in the shower after shampooing isn't necessarily a cause for alarm that something is wrong with you, other than maybe they should cast you as Choobakkah for the next Star Wars flick. Your head carries at least 100,000 hair follicles so it is possible to collect a handful of hair from out of the shower or your brush without it physically affecting the look of your mane. So unless your suddenly noticing thinning of your hair or bald spots, chances are your fine as we lose hair on a daily basis anyways.
Hair Fun Fact: We lose about 100 hair strands on a daily basis.
Hey Where Did My Hair Go Man?
If you are noticing thinning of the hair you have an iron or protein deficiency. It's also common to have thinning hair when you have an eating disorder (yacking up food not only makes your teeth fall out but also affects your mane) because the malnutrition forces the body to conserve protein by shutting down hair growth. Thyroid disease, underactive or overactive increases hair loss. Although once the disease is under control, the hair is restored.
Hey Dude, Is it Snowing in Here?
Dandruff is one of the hairs most misunderstood maladies. Most think that the scalp is dry and therefore becomes flaky and that's when the snow flurries start. While some may suffer from dry scalp, dandruff is actually not a matter of dryness. Dandruff, or "seborrhiec dermatitis" is actually an inflammation of the scalp causing it to be red and flake in the areas where the skin is rich in oil glands. (sounds yummy) also eczema and psoriasis can also be the culprit where the scalp gets red and itchy and when scratched causes those afternoon flurries.
I Like to Put My Finger in Light Sockets........Really
Crazy ass fried, dried and brittle looking hair is just that.........fried. We can blame it on chemical dyes, permanents, blow drying, flat ironing and being in the sun. We sabotage the integrity of our own hair! Without adequate protein our growing hair won't be as strong and resilient as it should be. I used to work for Paul Mitchell several years ago when they first came out with their "strength" line. Great stuff very repairing, ironically though, if used every day it will actually dry out the hair. So you can use this product say three to four times a week until your hair shows improvement. Trust me though it won't take long using this product. It boasts that just after one use you will see a 40% increase in strength. Aside of our abuse to our own hair do to chemicals etc., it is also an indicator that we have a crappy diet. Taking an essential fatty acid supplement such as OMEGA Complete will help with this. Or we can just incorporate more wild salmon, flaxseeds, and fish oil supplements into our diet. Remember though, a change in your diet will only have an impact on your new hair growth not your existing hair. You will need to use product for the existing hair.
Have you ever noticed how the hair on one side of your head lays flatter or has a tendency to flip under or out? That's because our hair grows in a circular pattern. That's right not just out of crazy random dots out of our head, but literally around our heads in a circular pattern. So if the hair on the left side of your head flips outward that would mean that your hair grows circular from the right side to the left and vice versa....
Put Down the Bleach
If you bleach your hair regularly and decide to put color back into it chances are it won't grab the color.......at all. That's because your hair is too porous and damaged that it can't hang on to the color. So instead, deep condition the bleached hair for awhile, I would say at least a month. Then try to color it again. This way the hair will be in better shape and will accept the color.
Credits: health.msn.com and www.instyle.com
Related Articles: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-8104-Jackson-Beauty-Examiner~y2009m6d4-Could-you-be-at-risk-for-going-bald
- Average number of hairs on the head: 100,000
- Red hair has: 90,000 hairs
- Black hair: 110,000 hairs
- Blond hair: 140,000 hairs
- Maximum length of hair: 70 to 90 cm
- Annual growth: 12 cm
- Female hair grows more slowly than male hair (wouldn’t you just know it)
- Male hair is more dense than female hair (ditto)
- Lifespan of hair: 2 to 7 years
- Diameter of hair: 0.1 mm
- Load-carrying capacity: 100 grams (= one chocolate bar)
- Humidity stretches the hair
- Combing is less detrimental than brushing
- Correct shampooing will not dry out the hair
- Frequent washing does not increase loss of hair
- Hair grows faster in warm weather
- Elderly people have slower hair growth and diminished hair density
- Cutting hair does not influence its growth
- Spliced ends can not be repaired and need to be cut
- Wet hair should not be rubbed since hair is very sensitive
Sweet Child O Mine - Guns N Roses
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