How Does My Hair Grow?
How Does My Hair Grow? Your hair grows out of tiny openings in your skin. These holes, which are too small to see, are called “follicles.” Each hair is a series of scaly cells piled one on top of the other. These scales are made out of a tough material called “keratin.” At the base of each hair is a bulb-shaped root.
It receives nourishment from your body and produces keratin. The new scales of keratin push up through the follicles, and your hair grows. Your hair’s main function is to protect your body. It keeps the top of your head warm in winter and protects your head from bumps and bruises.
Hair grows everywhere on the external body except for mucus membranes and glabrous skin, such as that found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and on the lips.
Hair follows a specific growth cycle with three distinct and concurrent phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Each has specific characteristics that determine the length of the hair. All three occur simultaneously; one strand of hair may be in the anagen phase, while another is in the telogen phase.
The body has different types of hair, including vellus hair and androgenic hair, each with its own type of cellular construction. The different construction gives the hair unique characteristics, serving specific purposes, mainly warmth and protection.