In hot and humid areas the hair growth phase is accelerated and cell division increases. In addition, the half-life of the hair is prolonged – from 4 to 5 years in men and from 5 to 6 in women. This, together with genetic reasons, explains why populations in tropical areas grow hair faster than those in temperate areas. However, you have to be cautious, since excess solar radiation can dry it out and anticipate its fall.
On average, the hair on the scalp grows from 0.35 to 0.45 millimeters a day. As we have said, depending on ancestry (genetics), diet and hormonal status (pregnant women grow hair a little faster; it is also thicker and shiny), our hair will grow at a higher or lower rate.
Why hair grows
The human body contains approximately 5,000,000 hair follicles and the function of each hair follicle is to produce a hair shaft. Our earliest ancestors used to have most of the body covered in hair, which served to conserve heat, protect from the sun, provide camouflage, and more. Today, however, humans stand out among the 5,000 species of mammals that are practically naked , but why?
Scientists believe that our lineage has shed less and less hair over the course of evolution over the past six million years since we shared a common ancestor with our closest relative, the chimpanzee. Our ape ancestors spent most of their time in cold forests, but of course, if we imagined an upright, hairy hominin walking in the sun, it would have overheated.
One of the leading theories about our hairlessness suggests that temperature control played a key role. Bare skin allows body heat to be lost through sweat, which would have been quite relevant when the first humans started walking on two legs and developed larger brains than their ape ancestors.
How to grow our hair
While genetics limit hair length, it is possible to accelerate its growth rate.
1. First of all, your hair growth reflects the overall health of your body. If we eat a diet rich in marine proteins, vitamin C (red peppers), zinc (oysters), biotin (eggs), niacin (tuna) and iron (oysters) to nourish the strands, we will do much better.
2. If it is not possible to change the diet, you can also try supplements with marine extracts, vitamins and minerals that nourish the follicles.
3. In addition to general health, the next thing to consider is the health of the scalp. Using a shampoo that gently exfoliates oil and dirt from the scalp, as well as a conditioner to hydrate the scalp and hair is essential for this purpose.
4. Costing your hair is also a proven method of growing hair. Although cutting hair itself does not promote growth, it does help prevent breakage and therefore increases hair length.
What things hurt your hair:
1. Silicone shampoos dry out the hair and degrade it. Hair dryers and flat irons produce similar effects, breaking the hair shafts. Use these products as little as possible.
2. UV light bleaches and degrades hair. When at the beach, wear a hat to protect your scalp.
3. Salt water and chlorine water soften and dry hair.
4. Bleaching, coloring, extensions, and perms also damage hair.
