Considering that we all have hair on our head (to one degree or another) it’s surprising how much about hair remains a mystery to most people. Of the surprising hair facts below, how many were you aware of?
- Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in the body (bone marrow is the first).
- Balding only begins to become visible once you’ve lost over 50 percent of the hair on your scalp.
- At any given time, 90 percent of the hairs in your scalp are growing, while the other 10 percent are resting.
- A single strand of hair has approximately a five-year lifespan.
- Hair is one of the most commonly used types of forensic evidence because it contains information about everything that has ever been in your bloodstream, including drugs.
- Human hair is made up mostly of the protein (keratin), the same fundamental building block for the horns, hooves, claws, beaks and feathers of animals.
- The average person loses an astonishing 100 hairs a day from their scalp. These are replaced by 100 new hair strands in those with a full head of hair.
- Human hair is incredibly strong—a strand is actually stronger than copper wire of the same diameter.
- The average person has between 100,000 and 150,000 strands of hair on their head.
- Hair grows faster in the summer months. In cold temperatures, blood is diverted to vital organs. Decreased blood flow to the scalp can result in 10-15% less growth.
- A physics journal from the University of Leicester answered the burning question: Could a grown man really scale Rapunzel’s hair, locked as she was in a tower 70 feet tall? Easily. In fact 100,000 strands would theoretically support 6,062 pounds.
Contact my clinic for a consultation or ask me a question about your unique situation and how we might treat it.
Dr. James A. Harris is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, inventor of patented follicular unit excision technology, published author in the field of hair restoration and an advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Harris or read rave reviews from his patients.
