Our hair determines a number of things in our life: we can express our feelings, moods and attitudes through colour, cut and styling. Beautiful, full hair is a sign of youth and energy. But lots of people share the same problem – hair loss – which often causes them great distress.
How many hairs are there on a human head?
We have around 100,000 hairs on our head whereby this figure can vary depending on colour and hair structure. People with blond hair have an average of 150,000 hairs, while redheads have only about 85,000. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that blond hair looks denser and fuller, because dark hair and, in particular, red hair is far thicker.
How fast does hair grow?
Our hair grows 15 centimetres a year on average, but it doesn’t go on doing that forever. Our hair cycle consists of three phases: the anagen, the catagen and the telogen phase.
How does my hair change during the hair cycle?
#1 Anagen phase
A hair’s lifecycle starts with the anagen phase – the growth phase. This is when the hair root and the hair begin to grow. With men, the growth phase lasts an average of 2–4 years, while for women it’s a little longer, 4–6 years. 80 % of our hair is in this phase.
#2 Catagen phase
Next comes the catagen phase – the transition phase. Only around 1 % of our hair is in this phase, which lasts for around 2 to 4 weeks. During this part of the cycle, cell production in the hair follicle – and thus growth – is temporarily suspended, and the hair slowly detaches.
#3 Telogen phase
In the telogen phase – the resting phase – the hair finally falls out, and the hair lifecycle begins again. This phase lasts for around 2 to 5 months, and about 20 % of our hair is in this phase. Natural hair loss of between 60 and 100 hairs per day is perfectly normal, and nothing to worry about. However, if significantly more hair is being lost, it’s recommended that you find out why.
What can cause hair loss?
There are many different reasons for hair loss, and we’re taking a closer look at the two most common causes.
#1 Genetic-hormonal-related hair loss
In the case of genetic-hormonal or androgenetic hair loss, the body’s own hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is responsible for hair loss. If DHT levels go off balance, hair production is inhibited.
This occurs in both men and women. In the case of women, it most often happens when oestrogen levels in the body go off balance – for example during pregnancy or menopause. In women, this hair loss is most evident as a thinning of the hair on the top of the head.
In men, hormone-related hair loss causes individual bald spots on the head, particularly the front. With this kind of hair loss, holistic measures are recommended, as is keeping a close eye on your hormone balance.
#2 Diffuse hair loss
Diffuse hair loss is largely influenced by your lifestyle and environment, and it’s the most common form of hair loss although, at the same time, it’s also the one which you can influence the most.
Diffuse hair loss is influenced by many different factors including a lack of nutrients or sleep, medication, stress, and incorrect or harmful hair care.
A typical feature of this kind of hair loss is even loss across the entire scalp. Unlike genetic-hormonal hair loss, however, hair can grow back again. With the right care and attention to your lifestyle, you can achieve a great deal, and will be able to restore your crowning glory to new life.
What can I do to prevent hair loss?
A balanced work-life balance and a rich supply of important nutrients can help hair health, and promote the preservation and restoration of our hair. Our choice of hair care products can also have a big influence on our locks.
#1 Pay attention to your nutrient balance
Our CAPS beauty & hair boost beauty from within. With their many smart ingredients and powerful natural talents, these capsules enhance the look of body, skin and hair.
We’d particularly like to draw your attention to their hair-strengthening effect. The zinc in CAPS beauty & hair is important for virtually all metabolic processes in our body, thus also for the formation of keratin and collagen which play an important role in hair growth.
#2 Use gentle hair care products
FRESH shampoo and FRESH hair treatment preserve the natural balance of microorganisms on our skin, thus supporting the natural skin barrier. The combination of these microbiome-friendly hair products ensures mild yet thorough cleaning on the one hand, while leaving your hair feeling lovely and soft on the other.
Care from within and on the outside, a healthy lifestyle, along with adequate rest and wellbeing are all important for preserving our all-round physical and mental health.