Interesting hair facts

A collection of some interesting, quirky bits of hair trivia. Enjoy!

Hair is dead protein once it has appeared from your scalp.
Hair is a reflection on the overall condition of your body. A healthy strand of hair should stretch by about 30% before it breaks.
Each hair on your body comes equipped with a tiny muscle that can make it stand upright.
The average number of hairs on the head is 100,000.
Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body, second only to bone marrow.
Asian hair grows the fastest, has the greatest elasticity and, and is least prone to balding.
Hair is present all over the body-except palms, soles and some parts of genitals.
Average rate of hair-growth is 0.37 mm/day.
The average uncut scalp hair length is about 25 to 100 cms. Though in exceptional cases it may be as long as 170 cm.
Hair grows faster in warm weather.
Female hair grows more slowly than male hair.
Male hair is denser than female hair.
90% of scalp hairs are growing and 10% are resting.
It is normal to lose 100 hairs per day from the scalp.
Elderly people have slower hair growth and diminished hair density. Over 50% of men by age 50 have male pattern hair loss. And over 40% of women by the time they reach menopause will have female pattern hair loss.
In ancient Egypt, the priests plucked every single hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has.
Trichotillomania (TTM), is a problem characterized by the repeated urge to pull out hair fibers mainly from the scalp, though the focus can also be on pulling eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, nose, pubic or other body hair. It is a condition in which the affected individual plucks or pulls out their own hair resulting in bald patches. The general causes of Trichotillomania may be anxiety disorders or mood problems.
Traction alopecia is also a hair-pulling disorder. But here the cause may involve things like tight hat bands or tight braids. If bands are used to tie tight pony tails, or cornrow hair styles are used then the roots of the hair are pulled on (traction). And when the traction continues for a long time and the same hair is repeatedly stressed, then the hair sheds off and the follicles in the skin can become damaged. The hair may eventually stop growing leading to permanent scarring alopecia. Traction alopecia is a substantial risk in hair weaves, which are usually worn either to conceal hair loss, or purely for cosmetic purposes.
Uncombable Hair Syndrome (UHS) is a rare disease in which the hair grows in silvery-blond or straw-colored, stands out straight from the scalp and is impossible to comb. Affected hair is dry, curly, brittle, and progressively uncombable, eventually taking on a “spangled” or shimmery appearance, most likely due to the reflection of light off the irregular surface of the shaft and only scalp hair is affected. It is normally seen in early infancy and childhood and is most likely to disappear as a person grows up.

The ache of acne (pimples)

Acne is often the bane of a pretty face. It is painful more emotionally than physically, for the scar that it leaves behind can last for a lifetime, adding to one’s miserable look & feeling. No doubt many expensive skin care clinics have mushroomed in ever nook & corner, offering to clear all the scars & blemishes on the face, but they are very expensive & charge exorbitant price for each sitting; not everyone can afford them. So why not try out this simple skin care regimen to minimize the damage caused by acne & as far as possible prevent its eruption.

Natural remedies for dark circles around your eyes

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty . And they become more prominent as you age. Let’s just debunk some of the myths as well as unearth some of the facts about the causes of these ‘ panda eyes ’. Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary and not a medical concern. You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn't the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker.

Home remedies for common cold

Common cold is a very common malady which affects people during monsoons. (Also see the post Beauty and body care in monsoon for a monsoon beauty regimen.) It can be caused by any one of more than 200 viruses. Normally it is confined to the nose and throat although the virus can infect the larynx and lungs. It is said that there is no particular cure for colds, they are naturally relieved within a week. Treatment is just an attempt to relieve its symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, sore-throat and congestion. Paracetamol tablets are generally taken to get relief from these symptoms.

Beating stress – some tips

It is very difficult to come across a happy, contented face in a crowd these days. Stress has become a way of life with people these days. Sure, we all need to be a little tense once in a blue moon. After all it acts as a positive force and helps us get things done. But when tension becomes a habit with us and we are unable to cope up with it, we say we are undergoing stress. Some people are simply born more tense than others. Children of over-anxious parents generally grow up to be more anxious than the others.

For a good night's sleep

Everyone of us, at one time or the other has been pestered by sleep problems. Sleeplessness could be transient and short-term or chronic. When it becomes a chronic problem it takes the form of insomnia and requires special attention. The first noticeable signs of poor sleeping habits are dark circles under the eyes pale skin, hair loss. Getting enough sleep is a must. Without proper sleep, your mind does not work as clearly and efficiently. You feel drained physically and mentally. Exactly how much you need to sleep depends on your own individual internal system. While some can do with 4-5 hours; most of us need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. But instead of reaching for a pill or a glass of wine, it’s wise to try out these time-honoured remedies and lifestyle changes.

Comments

Anonymous1:00 PM
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Aparna5:48 PM
Glad to know that you like my blog so much. :) Keep giving feedback like this.
Anonymous12:29 PM
Your blog is an eye-opener for many ignorant souls like me!!
Aparna12:32 PM
Thanks for the kind words, Anant.I am glad you enjoyed the post.
Anonymous5:47 PM
I am impressed with these facts.
Dhanalakshmi10:37 AM
Constantly pulling your hat on and off or adjusting it can place enough stress on the hair and hair follicles to cause it to be brittle and weak. Pushing or twisting your hair to put it up under your hat can also cause stress on the hair. Weakening or damaging the hair follicles may cause it to not only fall out but to not re-grow either.

Wearing a hat or hair covering too tightly may cut off the circulation to the hair roots possibly causing hair loss. A constant blood flow is essential to nourishing and revitalizing hair roots causing it to grow strong and thick. Interrupting this flow may weaken and damage the roots, causing hair loss.