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What is hair?

Hair is composed of a hardened protein called keratin. There are three layers to a hair:

• Cuticle - external layer of hair formed from hardened cells. It is scaly in nature and gives hair texture.
  
• Cortex - Under the scalp and related to hair volume. The cells of the cortex contain keratin and melanin (pigment).
  
• Medulla - Innermost center of hair, which is about 10% of volume, except in thin hair when the medulla may be absent.
  

Everyone has approximately 100,000 hairs and hair cycles every 2 to 6 years (average is 3 years) and is genetically programmed.

There are three phases of hair growth:

Anagen Phase - the initial growth phase of hair, usually lasting about 1000 days. It regularly occurs in most of the hairs on the human head. Approximately 85% of the hair on your head grows one inch per month. During this phase, hair is very sensitive to nutrition and environment.

Catagen Phase - Is a period of arrest which causes the follicle (root) to form a club hair and fall out. Most hair regrows because the follicle remains. As new hair grows from the root inside the follicle, it pushes out the old hair.

Telogen Phase - Is a resting mode 3 to 4 months prior to the anagen phase starting all over again. This phase usually lasts 100 days. Approximately 10 to 15% of all hairs are in this state of rest at any given time.



It is important to understand how the body produces healthy hair.

The scalp is composed of 3 basic layers of skin. The Epidermis - The Dermis - and The Subcutaneous Layers. Within these three layers of skin are blood vessels, nerves, muscles, glands, millions of cells, and of course, the hair. The hair, like any other part of the body, is supported by the flow of blood. As blood brings oxygen and nutrients into the papilla area it promotes cellular activity for the hair, and as these cells reproduce, they build a flexible substance called Keratin (hair). As the hair grows in the follicle, it is then lubricated by the sebaceous gland that secretes oil in the follicle, which coats the hair for smooth growth and provides luster and sheen.

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