Healthy hair growth secrets from L’ARIN
We all are dreaming about long, strong and healthy hair. Have you ever wondered why someone can grow hair as long as Rapunzel has, and others have hair barely beneath their shoulders? How does hair grow? And what you have to do to make your hair grow? In this article, we will try to answer these questions.
Biology of hair
To learn more about hair growth, it is worth digging deeper into what hair is and how it works. Anatomically, the hair consists of an invisible part resided in the skin - a hair bulb and a visible part - a hair shaft.
The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. The papilla is a significant part of the follicle, and it contains tiny blood vessels that nourish the cells with proteins, lipids and amino acids. The cells of the bulb divide every 23 to 72 hours, which is remarkably faster than any other cell in the body. That is why hair quickly reacts to illness and stress: they can affect the rate of cell division in the bulb, that can lead to hair fall but also they lose shine and slow down growth. A hair muscle is also hidden in the bulb, which lifts the hair shaft and makes the hair voluminous.
The visible part of the hair - shaft - has a simple structure: medulla, cortex and cuticle. The inner layer is the medulla. The second layer is the cortex - the main substance of the hair, which occupies up to 85% of its volume. The cortex consists of keratin, which is the main “building” material of the hair, and the natural pigment melanin, which is responsible for hair colour. The cuticle is the outer protective layer, which is responsible for the shine and texture of the hair. It consists of 10 layers of flat keratinized cells which are very tightly superimposed on one another. The cuticle gives the hair strength. This layer is suffered from heat styling and colouring in the first place.
How does hair grow?
According to the researches, the normal hair growth rate is between 0.5 and 1.7 centimetres per month. So, even with genuine desire, you cannot expect your hair growth more. Each hair grows independently of other hair from a hair follicle according to its own life cycle, which consists of 3 stages: anagen, catagen and telogen.
- Anagen. Anagen is the period of active hair growth. Forming of the new hair starts in the hair follicle as a result of the rapid dividing of the cells. In this phase, hair is actively growing about 1 cm per month for two to seven years. 80% of scalp hair is in this phase.
- Catagen. During the catagen, which is a transitional phase between active growth and resting, the hair stops growing, separates from the blood supply, forming a club hair. This phase is short and lasts for 2-3 weeks. Around 3% of the hair is in the catagen phase.
- Telogen. And finally, telogen is the resting phase, in which from 6% to 8% of all hair stay. In this phase completely formed club hair falls out as new hair begins to grow, pushing it up. Normally, we shed up to 100 hairs per day, so no need to panic if you notice some hair on your brush. As each hair goes through the cycle at different times, the process of natural replacement is almost invisible to us.
What are the reasons why hair does not grow?
There are some factors that impact the growth of hair:
- Genetics. You just cannot grow long and bouncy hair because of your genes. Our hair characteristics such as structure, speed of growth and maximum length are inherited from our ancestors. For example, if your ancestors had thin, sparse and lifeless hair, it is very likely that you will have the same hair problems.
- Poor nutrition. Your diet directly affects your hair health. Your nutrition plan should include calcium, magnesium, iodine, silicon, manganese, beta-carotene, biotin to support hair growth.
- Health disorders. Another explanation of why your hair is not growing are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system, dermatological diseases or poor blood circulation, as a result of which the hair follicles do not properly feed on blood. You have to remember, that hair health is a reflection of your overall health. If you notice any problems with your hair (hair breakage, hair loss or problems with scalp) it is highly recommended to consult with your doctor.
- Improper hair care. Of course, your hair care routine influences your growth of hair as well. Usually, the hair care routine products are limited to shampoo only. In Belgium, only 50% of the population applies conditioner, hair mask - 26%, and hair oil - 17%. It’s in vain, as applying a hair mask once a week can make a big difference. Also do not use much heat when you are styling your hair. This, of course, does not mean that you cannot dye your hair and do styling. Just be more gentle and listen carefully to the condition of your hair. Do not forget to use hair oil to moisturise your hair and thermal protection. Doing this way, you're keeping your length and promoting healthy hair growth.
Solutions for healthy hair growth from L’ARIN
To solve this problem, at L’ARIN we have products, which contribute to the growth of healthy, shiny, thick hair: Detox Repair Shampoo, The Essential Treat Me Hair serum and Calming Luminance Hairmask. All these products consist of rosemary essential oil, which not only stimulates hair growth, strengthening blood circulation, but also provides strength and reduces dandruff.
