Well-groomed hair is the dream of any woman. Spending a lot of time and energy on different styling, curling and coloring, many girls forget that the key to a beautiful hairstyle is healthy hair. To make it like this, you need to find out what the structure of the hair is, what is its life cycle, the causes of pathological changes and how to eliminate them.
From the roots to the tips
Each hair includes several elements. Its visible part is the core, which consists of inanimate cells filled with keratin. In the thickness of the scalp (at a depth of about 2.5 mm) is that part of the hair that determines its appearance - the root. It consists of many living cells that continuously divide. This process provides hair growth. Cell division is impossible without the participation of tissues located near the root. Together, they form a hair follicle, from which the nerve ending departs. The structure of the hair on the head is such that damage to this end leads to the complete death of the root without the possibility of its further restoration. The sebaceous glands located next to the follicles have a great influence on the beauty of hairstyles. If they are excessively large, then the scalp becomes oily. Underdevelopment of the sebaceous glands leads to its dryness. Also in the thickness of the skin next to each hair is a muscle that provides its rise.
Hair structure
Good follicles provide fast hair growth and a significant life expectancy. However, the appearance of the hair is also determined by the state of the rod. The structure of the hair in the section shows that its visible part includes the following layers:
- Scaly layer. It determines the shine and smoothness of hair. The larger the arrangement of the scales will resemble the masonry, the more well-groomed the hairstyle will look.
- Cortical layer. It includes various chemical elements that provide hair nutrition. The more of them, the more life energy the hair receives.
- Core. This component has been studied very little. According to observations, it is present in healthy hair with a thick root layer, but not in weakened hair.
Hair growth stages
The structure of the hair determines the various phases of its life. They cyclically replace each other and depend on the degree of division of root cells. The life span of hair can be divided into the following phases.
- Anogenic. This phase of active hair growth is ensured by cell division of its root. The rod extends in length and thickens. This stage lasts about 3 years. It contains about 80-90% of all hair on a person’s head.
- Katagennaya. Atrophy of the hair follicle occurs in this phase. Cells stop dividing, hair growth slows down and then completely stops. Its root shrinks and gradually moves closer to the surface of the scalp. The catagenic stage lasts about a month. About 2% of all hair on the head is simultaneously in this phase.
- Telogenic. This phase is characterized by a follicle rest period. The hair is practically not fixed in the thickness of the skin and can fall out with the slightest physical impact. Being in this phase is typical for 20-40% of all hair on the head.
The influence of growth phases on the hairstyle
Most hair falls out while in the telogen stage. Some, however, persist until the very beginning of the anogenic phase. At the same time, they fall out at the moment when the newly appearing hair shaft pushes the old one.
Growth phases, as well as the structure of human hair, determine the appearance of the hairstyle. Long curls, for example, are easiest to grow at a young age. This is due to the fact that each hair has about 25 life cycles, with each of which it grows less and becomes thinner. In addition, after 30 years, hair growth gradually slows down. Until this age, they grow by about 1.5 cm per month.
Causes of Hair Problems
There are a number of reasons that can cause growth retardation, hair loss, adversely affect their appearance. These include:
- Diseases of the endocrine system, malfunctions in the hormonal background and problems in the field of gynecology.
- Gastrointestinal diseases, impaired liver and kidney function.
- Taking certain medications.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.
- Heavy physical exertion and stress, after which the hair does not begin to fall out immediately, but after 2-3 months.
- Improper hair care, the negative impact of styling products, paints.
- Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on the hair, sudden changes in temperature. Excessive overheating of the scalp or severe cold also adversely affects the health of curls.
Thus, beautiful hair is a sign of a healthy and efficient body. Dull and brittle curls are often a reflection of various chronic diseases and pathological conditions, which must be dealt with in the first place.
Vitamins for a beautiful hairstyle
Very often, the structure of the human hair and the duration of the anogenic phase change for the worse due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. Hair becomes dry, brittle, devoid of shine. In this case, it is worth revising the diet or trying to make up for the lack of vitamins with special additives. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to the presence of the following components.
- Vitamins of group B. Their deficiency primarily leads to loss of hair shine and dryness. And vitamin B3, for example, is responsible for the normal amount of coloring pigment. Its deficiency in the body manifests itself as early gray hair.
- Vitamin A. Under its influence, the damaged hair structure is restored, it becomes elastic.
- Vitamin C is an excellent hair growth stimulator.
- Vitamin E is one of the sources of nutrition for hair follicle tissue. Especially recommended for owners of long hair.
- Zinc prevents the formation of excess sebum, normalizes the oiliness of the scalp.
- Iron and calcium are essential to prevent premature hair loss.
- Silicon is involved in the formation of collagen and elastin, due to which the hair becomes elastic.
Hair care
Improving the structure of the hair is possible and subject to some simple rules for caring for them.
- Wash your hair regularly as it gets dirty.
- Compliance with the optimal temperature regime. Do not wear too warm hats, in which the scalp constantly sweats. At the same time, staying without a hat at a temperature below 3 degrees for 10 minutes leads to a significant reduction in the anogenic stage of the hair's life cycle.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, since the structure of the hair on the head from this changes for the worse. In summer, especially when relaxing on the beach, it is better to wear a panama hat.
- One of the conditions for owning luxurious hair is gentle styling methods. Daily curling, blow-drying, staining - all this leads to problems with curls.
Qualified assistance
The structure of the hair is to some extent an indicator of the state of the body as a whole. Therefore, if, under the condition of a diet that ensures the intake of vitamins and minerals necessary for it, and proper hair care, they continue to fall out and look lifeless, it is worth contacting a trichologist. Do not try to cope with the problem yourself, because it can be a symptom of a chronic disease. The trichologist will help to deal with the causes of the pathology and, if necessary, will refer to other doctors for consultation.