Our hair is the mirror of our lifestyle and sometimes a revelation of what lies beneath. Hairs can also reveal if a person is regularly taking some medicine and also, from a single strand of hair, experts can identify our DNA and basically a simple hair analysis can possibly identify and confirm who is the real father or parent of an orphan.

Hair Facts

Everyone yearns for a lustrous, thick and healthy hair but oftentimes we do not pay much attention and care. Nevertheless, some people already grow grey hairs as early as their 30’s, and some suffer from baldness even at a young age of 25. The reasons for these are brought about by our own hormones and genetics. Usually, during spring and autumn seasons, some people have more falling hair than the other months of the year. If you are experiencing a case like this remember that you don’t have to worry, the reason is brought about by seasonal changes so, your hair will still grow back.

• Everyday, about 50-150 strands of hair fall out. (Even 300 after washing)
• Hair grows the fastest during summer and slower during autumn and winter.
• An average adult has 100,000 strands of hair, blondes have as much as 140,000 while some types could only have as much as 80,000.
• Hair thickness is about 42 to 95 micrometers. The most robust hairs are on the back part of the head. Typically, females have more durable hair than men.
• Average growth rate is 0.3 to 0.4 mm everyday.
• Life span of a hair lasts from 2 to 8 years.
• Hair growth dramatically slows down upon reaching the age of 70.

Not every woman can have long hair

To have long, beautiful hair like Magda Vášáryová from the Czech film “Postřižiny“is the dream of every woman. However, a huge percentage of women could never grow a long hair even though they would never ever cut their hair since birth. Each strand of hair has its own growth phase that could last only for 2-8 years and as women reach an older age, this phase becomes shorter. For those whose hair growth phase is only up to approximately 2 years, maximum hair length that could be achieved is only up to 20 cm.
 

Baldness – men’s nightmare

Research indicates that 80% of men suffering from baldness feel that losing one’s hair can be compared to the feeling of loosing one’s identity, even worse than obesity. Dermatologist MUDR. Larisa Sedláčková remarked: “Most often, baldness is caused by male hormones, compared to women who have rare cases of baldness because of their hormone estrogen.”  Men suffering from baldness frequently visit hair experts and try different types of solutions. At the same time, the market is offering various services guaranteed to answer this problem. “Unfortunately, none of these could ever make hair follicles go back.” MUDr. Petr Bouzek said.

Some guaranteed solutions:
Hair transplant – the only medical method at the present time that enables natural hair growth which is done similar to a plastic surgery operation.
Hair thickening and hair extensions (available in hair salons)
Recommended treatments and therapies with the help of specialists (dermatologist, trichologist, etc.)
 

Why hair turns grey?

Stress is a common factor that tires the muscle and causes it to become tense and stiff reducing blood cells that flow in the head resulting to poor sustenance and nourishment to the hair roots. In humans, melanin or color pigments in the hair cortex can be found in the skin and hair and a reduced supply of it leads to hair-greying, which generally arises by the age of 30 to 40. Although grey-hair is usually associated with old people, there are some people at a younger age who are also affected by this. Some say that it is an effect of some serious diseases, nervous breakdown or simply stress. Pre-mature hair-greying could be attributed to pigment disorders inherited genetically and would usually affect most members of the family.

 
Can hair turn grey overnight?

“Hair cannot just turn grey suddenly. Hair grows for a long period of time with pigments comprising it that if the hair dies, it does not necessarily man that all melanin will be extinguished.” MUDr. Petr Bouzek said. A dramatic greying of the hair could be an effect of a decrease in hair pigmentations and usually would take a couple of months. However, in such cases where hair-greying occurs in just a matter of days, the probable reasons could be hereditary, one’s way of life or accelerated aging process.
Some causes why hairs fall out and the mistakes we do:
 

Seasons of the year

During spring and autumn seasons, some people have more falling hair than the other months of the year. If you are experiencing a case like this remember that you don’t have to worry, the reason is brought about by seasonal changes and your hair will grow back.
 

Drastic diet

Diet is one aspect why we lose hair earlier than expected. Healthy hairs need an essential supply of important vitamins (B6, B12, C and E), minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, etc.) and amino acid.
 

Childbirth

During pregnancy, more estrogen is produced and that during this stage the hair is thicker and denser. After giving birth, the decline on the level of this hormone leads to a drastic fall-out of hair.
 

Immune System Disorder

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder resulting to hair loss ranging from a particular location at first to every hair on the entire body. This disorder concerns about 1.7% of the population. There are no possible prevention measures against this disorder.
 

Thyroid Glands Disorder

An increased or decreased activity by the thyroid gland could be one of the causes for hair loss. Other symptoms are manifested by nervousness, fatigue, obesity, etc.
 

Drugs and Amalgam

Some medicine components have negative effects on hair growth, but could still be cured with the appropriate therapy. For example, we should also be cautious in choosing the right filling for our teeth such as mercury amalgam fillings because mercury is also toxic.
 

Combing wet hair

It is possible to easily damage hair while combing immediately after washing. Bubble hair effect makes it easier for hair to break.
 

Feather cut

During repeated combing for a feather cut hairstyle causes disruption of the lamina on the scalp. Consequently, this weakens the inner hair layers causing them to break.
 

Hair coloring

Hair discoloration and permanent perms could also result to permanent damages to the hair structure. Continuous and frequent non-professional hair dying and styling could considerably weaken the hair and eventually cause to break off.
 

Braids, ponytails and dreadlocks

Baldness and falling hair can also be triggered by how we style our hair. Typical examples are frequent use of ponytails, braided hair and dreadlocks. If we style our hair too long and too often such as these, hair follicles can easily be destroyed. 
 

Blow-drying

Using blow-dryers at excessively high temperatures (120 - 180°C) causes water that hydrates our scalp and hair to bubble and become burnt. These areas will then be weakened and sensitive causing hair to break or even not allow hair to regenerate on these parts.
 

How to minimize hair damage?

Try to avoid all possible habits, diet and activities that could damage your hair. Be sure to always use quality shampoos, conditioners and other hair products because quality hair products contain the essential nutrients such as collagen, amino acids, panthenol and vitamins B6, E and C.
 

Conclusion

Hair growth cannot just dramatically speed up or slow down, or even influence its natural thickness. The only possible solutions are hair transplant, hair thickening and hair extensions because the number of hair follicles is fixed since birth never increases as we grow older. Trichologist Alena Šamanová recommends: “Proper hair care and treatment can minimize falling hair and in any case when you experience this problem, do not purchase the first product that you see on a TV advertisement but immediately visit the nearest hair specialist.“