What Is Hair and its Purpose?
What actually is Hair?
For more than centuries people have been impressed, annoyed, obsessed over and even been disgusted by hair. They have been purposefully growing it long, shaving it off, coloring it, curling it and what not, without even realizing its true nature and purpose. Nowadays, hair has given rise even to some of the world’s largest industries manufacturing and selling products to make your hair look more vibrant as well as alive.
Scientifically hair is something very dead and actually a part of skin. Unlike finger or toenails, it separates from the skin as it grows but, being dead does not mean we don’t need to take good care of it, as the complex growth part of every hair is carefully nestled inside our skin in hair follicles and not taking good care can cause permanent damage to those causing premature hair loss.
An average human body is covered with 5 million follicles, with approximately 100,000 on your head. The growth phase of every hair follicle is divided into two phases; Anagen or growth phase where the hair follicle makes hair grow up to about 1/2 an inch every month and Telogen phase or resting phase where the follicle usually takes a rest from producing any hair and for the time being hair from that follicle disappears. At any particular point of time about 90% of the follicles are in Anagen or growth phase and the rest 10 % in Telogen or resting phase. Average human hair stays in growth phase and can grow up to lengths of 1 1/2 – 3 feet before it falls out naturally.
What is the Purpose of Hair?
Being dead doesn’t mean that hair has no purpose; rather hair serves several biological functions, growing even in the most unwanted of places. Hair usually serves following biological functions:
- Protection of scalp and head.
- Acting as insulation in summer or winter.
- Provides protection against sunburn.
- Protects the nerve endings that sense those irritating mosquito bites.