According to Claire Stevens, LTTS at HairScientists.org, hair is made up of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and sulphur. The hard part of the hair is a protein with amino acids, including cystine that gives it strength. The growth of hair is mostly genetically determined, with hormones playing a part in its formation and changes.
Rate of Hair Growth
The average person's hair grows approximately 6 inches per year, according to Karen Marie Shelton in "Hair Growing Tips" on HairBoutique.com. This equates to a typical 1/2 inch per month of growth, although it may be slightly faster in the summer and slower during the cold winter months.
Children's Hair
Babies and children have a finer textured hair that covers their body. As they reach puberty, they develop coarser hair in the pubic region.
Male Hair
Men develop and produce more hair on the face and body after they reach puberty. Some men who are genetically predisposed experience male pattern baldness, causing what is called a receding hairline and sometimes a bald spot on the top-back region of the head. This can also be caused by hyperthyroidism or an autoimmune disease.
Hair Count
Most people have approximately 100,000 hairs on their heads, according to Ms. Shelton on HairBoutique.com. By the time most people's hair reaches two years old, it is often dry and brittle from washing, combing, brushing, processing and styling, causing it to snap or break off.
Keeping Hair Healthy
As with all parts of the body, hair needs to be nourished, and this means that you need adequate vitamins, minerals and proteins in your diet or through supplements. To prevent hair loss or unnecessary breakage, you should eat foods with B vitamins and amino acids found in protein. Not enough of these can retard hair growth or cause hair that is more brittle. Some important foods that help feed the hair are eggs, yogurt, fish, beans and soy.
Although you can't speed up the growth of your hair, you can give it some advantages by keeping it healthy and shiny. Stop smoking, cut back on caffeine, eat healthy foods, avoid applying heat or chemicals to the hair, have frequent scalp massages to increase the circulation in the scalp, get your hair trimmed regularly for a healthier look and be gentle with your hair when combing or brushing.
Hair Growth Retardants
Some things in your life may cause your hair growth to slow down. Certain medications may affect hair growth. Stress and anxiety may cause it to fall out or slow down in the growth phase. Not getting enough sleep is another stressor to the hair.
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