Understanding Hair Growth- A Guided Tour Of The Hair Follicle

With the average person having about 100,000 hair follicles on the scalp to produce head hair, much work is going on daily in these tiny hair factories. Understanding the process of hair growth and how hair is formed can give a better understanding of why production stops resulting in hair loss.

Let's take a brief tour of the hair follicle with explanations in layman's terms, given the fact that few of us have taken medical studies.

The tour starts at the outer layer of skin called the epidermis which in turn has three layers starting with the germinative layer at the bottom, the granular layer above, and finally the cornified layer, the part which is visible.

The Bottom

The hair follicles are tiny pear shaped cups located in the germinative and granular layers of the skin on the scalp. While there are numerous layers and components that make up the hair follicle, our attention centers on the dermal papilla, located at the bottom end of the hair follicle.

Tiny blood vessels provide the nourishment needed for the dermal papilla or bulb shaped part of the hair follicle to keep up new cell production.

Now here is where a fascinating process kicks in. As new cells are formed in the bulb shaped dermal papilla, older cells are pushed upwards. As they reach the top of the bulb the cells are remarkably arranged into cylindrical layers, one inside the other, six in total.

While the outer 3 layers form a sheath in the hair follicle, the inner 3 layers begin to form the actual hair.

Other cells in the bulb produce the pigment (melanin) that gives hair its color. As the hair moves up the hair follicle, being pushed up as new cells are formed, the pigment or melanin in the inner part of the hair is carried upwards also.

The Middle

It is in the middle of the hair follicle that the cells which have been growing die. As they push upward they harden and now consist of a variety of proteins called keratins forming what we recognize as hair. Keratins are made up of smaller units called amino acids.

Interestingly some of these keratin proteins contain a high level of sulphur. (Some hair loss herbal remedies on the market use sulphur containing amino acids to provide an underlying matrix for healthy hair growth. See resource box below for NewHair Biofactors)

The Top

As this process of new cell creation from the bottom pushes older cells to the middle where they die and harden they finally arrive at the top of the hair follicle where they emerge from the scalp as the hair shaft.

Sebaceous glands near the top of the hair follicle produce an oily secretion called 'sebum' which helps make the hair water proof, and plays an important role in preventing bacteria from getting out of control which may become harmful.

Hair Close-Up

When you examine a hair under a powerful microscope you will see the surface almost resembles the scales on a fish. When the scales are smoothed in one direction the hair looks shiny and lays flat. When the scales are roughed up by an ingredient that moves 'against the grain' the hair appears stiffer and stands up. This characteristic is utilized in some hair products that claim to increase body and volume.

To use another comparison, hair may be likened to a tree with a tough outer bark. The inner shaft of the hair is moist lying beneath the protective bark. If the outer protective covering is stripped off through rough treatment the inner part of the hair, the cortex, is exposed and may break.

What does this tour of the hair follicle teach us about hair loss and hair growth?

It can be seen that hair production is an amazingly complex process that can be affected by many things. As these tiny hair factories, the hair follicles depend on a supply of healthy, oxygenated blood that is part of a healthy circulatory system, lifestyle choices are likely to affect hair loss and hair growth to a considerable degree.

So if you are concerned about thinning hair, take a look at your diet and exercise regimen. They can have a huge bearing on the health of your skin and scalp.

Helpful Resources

Jonathon E. Phillips, a leading hair loss analyst, firmly believes in this 'whole body' approach to hair loss rather than relying on prescription drugs which often require almost a lifetime commitment with subsequent side effects.

He sets out his Step-By-Step Hair Power Regimen in his illuminating 168 ebook "Hair Loss No More." I personally have a copy and enthusiastically recommend it to anyone concerned about hair loss. (See resource box)

Another resource I use is a hair shampoo from a company called Nisim International, hair specialists for over 20 years. Their NewHair Biofactors System contains a deep cleansing shampoo which neutralizes the effect of DHT, the substance which gets into the hair follicle and basically shuts it down causing loss of hair. Again, see the resource box for details.

An understanding of hair growth can help us be very cautious when evaluating the claims of some hair loss products on the market which attempt to treat the problem superficially from the outside rather than getting to the root of the problem from the inside.

Additionally, educating ourselves about hair growth and the function of the hair follicle can be a major factor in controlling hair loss and doing what is necessary in our lives to promote healthy hair growth.