What Makes Your Hair Grow?

The Science Behind What Makes Your Hair Grow! – Steven Scarr Hairdressing Salon in Durham

Amongst some of the most popular questions we get asked in our Durham hair salon are – “how long will it take for my hair to grow?” or “how fast will my hair grow?”.

Although every head of hair is different, on average your locks will grow around ½ an inch per month or 0.35mm a day. This canvary depending on a range of factors such as genetics, diet and hormones. If you are pregnant you may find that your hair grows quicker and if you are very lucky it may grow thicker and shinier too!

Why does It not Hurt When My Hair Is Cut?

Ever wondered why it doesn’t hurt when you have your hair cut? Listen up – here comes the science bit…The hair on the scalp grows from small pockets in the skin called follicles. The hair grows up from the root of the follicle which is made up from cell proteins.

Our bodies feed these cell proteins from our blood vessels that are scattered around our scalp. As more and more cells are created, hair starts to grow in length through the skin, passing an oil gland along the way. Emerging from the pit of each follicle is the hair shaft itself which is made from a hard, strong protein called keratin.

When the hair is eventually long enough to show through the skin the hair is already dead, which is why you can’t feel anything when you get your hair cut!

Why Is My Hair This Colour?

The hair follicles each contain two different types of melanin (eumelanin and pheomelanin) and is what gives hair it’s colour. In general if you have more eumelanin in your hair then you tend to have a darker hair colour if you have less then hair is often lighter in colour.

Basically hair colour is the pigmentation of the hair follicles. As we age the pigment cells slowly die which means the hair contains less colour, often becoming transparent. When this happens the strand of hair can turn silver, grey or white.

Why Does My Hair Only Grows to a Certain Length?

The cuticles on our hair come in different shapes including round and flat. If you find that your hair only ever seems to grow to your shoulders and no longer, chances are you have flat cuticles.

Round shaped follicles grip the hair better so have a better chance of growing longer while flat hair follicles are often associated with shorter hair lengths. As your hair grows and gets longer it also gets heavier until the follicle gets too heavy to hold and sheds the hair.

The shape of the hair cuticle can also determine whether your hair is smooth, curly, frizzy or straight.

How to Grow Your Hair Longer – Tops Tips From Steven Scarr Hairdressing Salon

long hair at Steven Scarr hair salonTry our hassle free top tips on how to help your hair grow stronger and longer fast!

  •  Eat a rich diet including protein, zinc and iron
  •  Take supplements to help nourish your follicles and encourage hair growth
  •  Use a gentle shampoo that gently exfoliates the scalp
  •  Regular haircuts – although this will not make your hair grow faster it will prevent breakage therefore increasing length.
  • Avoid excessive use of heated appliances
  • Wear a swimming cap to prevent salt & chlorine from softening the hair

Visit The Hair Experts at Steven Scarr Hairdressing Salon in Durham

So if you are looking for the best hair salon in Durham or would like to book an appointment with one of our expert hairstylists, call our friendly and professional team on 0191 377 1830.

Areas We Cover

Coxhoe

Durham

Darlington

Stockton