Facts and statistics about hair, pattern baldness, and health
Hair is one of the most revered of all human body parts, perhaps because it plays such an integral role in the formation of first impressions, self-image, and self-confidence. Americans spend millions each year to keep their luscious locks healthy, styled, and nourished. Millions more are spent by individuals who suffer with hair loss, further illustrating just how deeply our culture values the appearance of a full head of hair.
Despite such adoration, Americans tend to know very little about the follicular assets that cover their crown. Some are shocked to know that certain strands of hair contain traces of the element gold, for example. Others are surprised to learn that some individuals naturally go blonde as they age.
The editors of the Miami Hair Blog have compiled the following list of hair facts to educate, entertain, and—in some cases—amaze. For more amazing hair facts, be sure to reference the articles and info graphics in the sources section below.
Hair facts: 10 things you might never have known
1. Facial hair could prevent skin cancer.
Sorry ladies, this perk is for testosterone-driven males only. Men with facial hair might be less likely to contract skin cancer because those thick mustaches and beards shield the face from harmful UVA/ UVB rays. It’s not all bad for women, however. By the same logic, long hair might protect the ears and neck from equally damaging rays.
2. Human hair often contains over a dozen different elements.
Each strand of hair is comprised of many different elements, including hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and gold (Au).
3. Not all hair colors go grey.
Black, brunette, and blonde haired individuals are known to go grey as they age. However, redheads have a unique tendency to go blonde as they age, which is an interesting fact for the 2-6% of the American population who have red hair.
4. Redheads are extremely rare.
Though 2-6% of the American population has red colored hair, the population of redheads worldwide is only about 1%.
5. Hair cleans up oil.
Certain Eco-conscious groups have been known to use high volumes of human hair to clean up massive oil spills.
6. Receding hairlines were once fashionable.
During the Renaissance period that spanned the 14th-17th centuries across Italy and Europe, women were known to aggressively pluck their hairlines to create the appearance of a higher forehead.
7. Pattern baldness can take a long time to notice.
Depending on the individual, signs of pattern baldness might not be noticeable until upwards of 40% hair is lost. Signs of balding are even harder to detect in women because hair loss tends to occur in a more spread-out manner.
8. Bones grow faster than hair.
When it comes to regeneration, bone marrow is the only tissue in the human body that grows faster than your hair.
9. Approximately 5 million hair follicles span the human body.
Follicles are the organ that produces hair, helping each strand to progress through 3 distinct phases: Anagen (growth), catagen (cessation), and telogen (rest).
10. Hair can be shocked into dormancy.
A car accident, divorce, loss of loved one, or other serious life event can disrupt the normal growth cycle and send hair into a resting phase. If severe, hair follicles might remain dormant and become unable to produce new, healthy hair. Hair loss professionals call this phenomenon Telogen effluvium, or stress-related hair loss.
Hair Transplant Institute: South Florida’s Top Surgeons
This list of incredibly hair facts has been created by the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami, home of South Florida’s top hair transplant surgeons. To learn more about hair loss evaluation and treatment at our Institute, call 1-877-443-9070.
Sources:
(i) “50 Insane Facts About Hair- Infographic.” Daily Infographic. Accessed 9 December 2013.
(ii) “5 Unusual Facts About Hair.” The Belgravia Centre. Accessed 9 December 2013.
(iii) “Effluviums.” American Hair Loss Association. Accessed 9 December 2013.