9 Unexpected Things You Never Knew About Hair

Some people like to brush off the subject of hair as trivial and people who put “too much” thought or effort into their hair as vain. After all, hair is literally superficial, and, as we all know, true beauty comes from within. However, as great as it would be if we could all wake up in the morning every day without a care in the world as to what their hair looks like, the reality is that very few people actually manage not to care even a little bit. 

For most people, hair is important because it is the frame of the face, a fundamental element to take into account when forming a first impression of someone. Your hairstyle sends a message to the world about your personality, identity, and even your culture. And, of course, wearing a style that you like or having a so-called “good-hair day” can absolutely change the way you face the world, boosting your energy, confidence, and self-esteem. 

So, there is no way to deny that hair is a big deal both individually and socially, and it is in no way vain or silly to care about what it looks like, to want it to look good, or to change it up every now and then whenever you feel like it. 

With that in mind, let’s learn a little bit more about this seemingly-superficial aspect of our lives that is actually pretty important in so many ways. Here are 9 unexpected facts that you never knew about hair. 

Why does hair grow?

Hair doesn’t just help us look more attractive or express our individuality. The main reason why we grow so much hair out of our head, as well as other parts of our body, is to keep us warm and maintain a stable body temperature.

Another benefit of having hair is that it keeps your skin hydrated, helps filter ultraviolet rays and also protects sensitive areas in the body, such as your nose, ears, and eyes, keeping dust and small particles out. 

Is hair made up of dead cells?

Hair is an organic tissue made up of proteins, particularly keratin. It also contains smaller amounts of water, pigment, lipids, and trace elements. So, in other words, it is not exactly made up of dead cells, although it is related to the cells that die around the follicles, which accumulate and disintegrate, resulting in keratin synthesis. 

Because of this, some people say that hair doesn’t “grow,” and that it’s just an accumulation of proteins. As such, the best way to grow longer hair is to provide it the nutrients required for keratin synthesis. 

Hair in numbers 

Our years of experience counting follicular units in order to perform hair transplants have led us to take very seriously these facts that may surprise you. 

How many hairs do we have on our head?

The number of hairs on your head is determined by various factors: sex, age, ethnicity, etc. However, on average, it is estimated that an adult head has anywhere between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs.

How many hairs do we lose in a day?

We have an entire article talking about how much hair we lose per day. On average, we lose 50 to 100 hairs every day. It is estimated that every year 10,000 to 15,000 hairs are renovated, although this number can change, depending on various factors, such as stress and hormonal changes, among others. 

How long does it take for one hair to grow?

As we said before, hair consists of an accumulation of keratin that makes the capillary shaft grow longer. Hairs can grow up to 0.05 centimeters per day, which means 1.5 centimeters per month, and 18 centimeters per year.

It’s important to remember that hair remains in the growth stage for approximately 2 to 6 years, so the maximum length it could reach is about one meter, although there are some exceptions.

How thick can one hair be?

On average, adult hairs are about 70 microns (0.070 mm) thick. If we are talking about very thick hair, its diameter is 0.1 mm. In turn, very thin hair is about 0.025 mm thick.  

How strong is one hair?

One strong hair can hold up to 100 grams without breaking, while a more brittle hair would only withstand 30 grams of weight before breaking.

How long is the longest hair in the world?

Back in 2004, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized Xie Qiuping, a Chinese woman, for having the world’s longest hair, stretching for 5.62 meters.

However, someone else who had extremely long hair is supposed to have beaten Xie Qiuping, but did not want to appear on the book of records. His name was Tran Van Hay. This Vietnamese man died in 2010, but, according to various media outlets, his hair was an outstanding 6.5 meters long. 

Tell us, what else would you like to know about hair? Let us know in the comments.