Facts & Tidbits about Hair - Hair By Harry

TRUE FACTS -- Did YOU Know that:

• A stand of hair can reveal (to a scientist) what drugs you have taken and how often you engage in sexual activity (via chemical or hormonal "deposits" within the hair's structure). Don't worry, the test is still too expensive for parents to test your hair.
• Hair is made of a a type of protein called keratin. Keratin also makes up the upper layer of the skin, fingernails and animal horns. The word keratin comes from the Indo-European ker meaning horn.
• The color of your hair is determined by the amount of pigment, or melanin, produced by the hair bulb. Melanin is found in skin, hair, feathers, scales, eyes, and some internal membranes. In the skin, it determines whether you tan or burn.
• The hair bulb (root) produces new cells which divide faster than any other cells in your body.
• Each hair shaft has three parts. The soft center (medulla), the main middle layer (cortex) and the hard outer layer (cuticle).
• The cuticle layer's purpose is to protect the cortex and medulla.
• A damaged cuticle layer of the hair causes frizziness. Products that claim to stop frizziness actually either coat or attempt to chemically close down an open cuticle layer with a product that is slightly acid making the hair appear smoother and shinier.
• A damaged cuticle layer can prevent hair color from lasting as long.
• Chemical processes such as color, perming, and straightening affect the cuticle layer and the cortex of the hair.
• Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin. Ugh!
• The horn of a rhinoceros is made of compacted hair.
• The hair shaft protruding from your skin's surface is actually dried out, hardened, dead cells (which contain those chemical or homonal deposits within)..

Question
What causes GRAY HAIR?

Harry's Answer
Getting gray, silver, or white hair is a natural part of growing older. As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. With fewer pigment cells, the hair will become a more transparent color - like gray, silver, or white. Eventually, the hair will have little or no pigment cells (less melanin) and look completely gray, silver or white (depending upon your genetics). If you want, I can give you the color of your choice.

Question
How can I get auto type grease out of my hair?

Harry's Answer
If you have tried shampoo and it just isn't removing the petroleum based products out of your hair, try spot washing the area using the cheapest liquid dishwashing soap you can find laying around. Liquid dishwashing soap is highly alkaline and should do the trick. WARNING: using dishwashing soap on your hair WILL damage colored or permed hair.

Question
What causes HAIR LOSS?

Harry's Answer
Most people lose about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. These hairs are replaced - they grow back in the same follicle on your head. This amount of hair loss is totally normal and no cause for worry. If you're losing more than that, though, something may be wrong. As there are many things that can cause hair loss, I have listed some of the more common things that can cause hair loss:

• Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair. Hormonal imbalances can also cause hair loss..



• Medications. Some medications that have hair loss as a side effect. Acne medicines like isotretinoin; and lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Diet pills that contain amphetamines can also cause hair loss.



• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer are probably the most well-known medications that cause hair loss, but some cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause hair loss even before treatment begins.



• The skin disease Alopecia areata. This skin disease causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body. It affects 1.7% of the population, including more than 4 million people in the United States. Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the hair follicles are damaged by a person's own immune system. (In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs in a person's body.) Alopecia areata usually starts as one or more small, round bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total hair loss, although total hair loss only happens in a small number of cases. Both guys and girls can get it, and it often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 2 years, but not always.



• Chemical Hair treatments and styling. Having your hair chemically treated, such as getting your hair colored, bleached, straightened, or permed, (especially when done improperly by a non-professional who does not fully understand the chemicals being used) can cause enough damage that the hair breaks off or falls out temporarily. Another type of baldness that results from hair styling can actually be permanent: If a person wears his or her hair pulled so tightly together that it places tension on the scalp, it can result in a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can be permanent if the style is worn for a long enough time that it damages the hair follicles.



• Poor nutrition. Poor eating can contribute to hair loss. This is why some people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia lose their hair: The body isn't getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to sustain hair growth. Some vegetarians also lose their hair if they don't get enough protein from non-meat sources. And some athletes are at higher risk for hair loss because they may be more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia.



• Disruption of the hair growth cycle. Some major events can alter the hair's growth cycle temporarily. For example, delivering a baby, having surgery, or getting anesthesia can temporarily stop the hair growth cycle. (Because the hair we see on our heads has actually taken months to grow, a person may not notice any disruptions of the hair growth cycle until months after the event that caused it.) This type of hair loss usually corrects itself.



• Male-pattern baldness. Among adults, particularly men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic. Alopecia, also called male-pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a combination of factors, including hormones called androgens and genetics. In some males, the hair loss can start as early as the mid-teen years. It can also occur in guys who take steroids like testosterone to build their bodies.

Question
Is there really a difference between professional products and those found in discount or grocery stores?

Harry's Answer
The "real" answer lies within a product's ingredients. Professional companies spend millions of dollars to achieve a particular result from using each product and pay very close attention to the alkalinity and acidity of their products.

A product's pH should be of prime interest to you. Hair-care products should have a pH of 6.0 - 8.0. Highly alkaline products will strip color, destroy a perm and damage the outer (cuticle) layer of your hair. Cheap shampoos are usually simple soap (alkaline) which will wash away sebum (oil) and dirt but also cause the cuticle layer of the hair to swell up and get rougher; making the hair dull and/or fuzzy. Soap may also leave behind soap scum (calcium and magnesium deposits). Rinsing your hair with a slightly acid product dissolves soap scum and makes the cuticle layer lay down flat-- giving you that shiny & smooth appearance. Some companies distinguish their shampoo products as "detergents" as opposed to "soap". Obviously, "detergent" is the better product for hair since "soap" solutions are usually very alkaline (too strong).

As you are paying a professional to make you look good, it is unwise to destroy the service you paid for (especially if you had a chemical service performed) by using cheap, old, or imitation products. Most professionals will only suggest products that will make you look good. After all -- even though most will not say this to your face -- you ARE a walking talking billboard for your stylist. If your hair looks fuzzy, limp, or your hair color looks faded, splotchy, or like it was done at home by some mad scientist -- you need a new stylist that will educate you on how to MAINTAIN that "looking good" look and feeling. If your stylist is lacking, come see me. I'm here to help YOU look good and feel better about your choices.

* Answers are based upon Harry's personal opinion and 25+ years of experience. Answers contained within this web site are provided solely for your general information only. It is NOT intended, nor should it ever be construed as medical or beauty advice, and should not be depended upon as a substitute for any consultations with qualified health professionals.