Random Hair Facts

Hair is composed of 50.65% carbon, 20.85% oxygen, 17.14% nitrogen, 6.36% hydrogen, and 5.0% sulfur. Hair also contains trace amounts of magnesium, arsenic, iron, chromium and other metals and minerals.

Darker hair contains higher levels of carbon than blonde hair.

The fine, downy hair that covers the cheeks and other parts of the face is called lanugo hair.

Hair grows approximately one-half inch per month. Hair growth occurs fastest between the ages of 15 and 30, and grows faster on women than men.

The average life span of a strand of hair is between 4 and 7 years.

Hair's natural part is caused by the condition known as a hairstream. Hairstream refers to the effect that is created when the hair follicles slope in the same direction, thereby determining the directional flow of the hair. When two hairstreams slope in opposite directions, a natural part occurs. In other words, hair follicles on one side of the part slope differently than the follicles on the other side of the part.

Hair is shed on a daily basis. It is normal to shed between 75-150 hairs per day.

The numbers of hairs on the head vary with the hair's natural color. Redheads have about 90,000. Black, 108,000. Brown, 140,000. And blondes not only have more fun, they have more hair too. They have about 140,000.

There is an average of 1,000 hairs per square inch. I guess that means the bigger your head is, the more hair you have.

Normally, dry hair can be stretched one-fifth of it's length before breaking. Wet hair can stretch between 40-50% of it's length.

The curling iron was developed in 1875 by a Frenchman, Marcel Grateau. Not to be confused with Marcel Marceau, the famous mime.

The level system of haircolor, which is a 1-10 scale used to measure darkness (level 1 is black, level 10 is light blonde), was originally developed by law enforcement officials as a means to identify suspected criminals.

The removal of unwanted body hair can be dated back to the time of the ancient Egyptians, who used abrasion as a way to remove hair. Ancient Romans and Greeks used pumice stones and other abrasives to remove hair. Native Americans and Pacific Islanders removed hair by scraping with seashells. In ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures, the volcanic glass obsidian was used to shave hair. Obsidian can be honed many times sharper than most razor blades.

The earliest means of chemical hair removal dates back to the ancient Turks, who used a concoction known as "rusma". Rusma is a combination of yellow sulfide of arsenic, quicklime, and rose water.

Electrolysis was invented by Charles E. Michel, a St. Louis opthalmologist in 1875. Dr. Michel used galvanic current and a surgical needle in his device, which was developed to treat ingrown eyelashes.

“Terrible Celebrity Hairstyles”

We all have bad hair days some of us more than others!!!!! but some of these celebrities take it to a whole new level. Check out their worst hairstyles to date … then think how much worse your hair could look next time you have a bad hair day, its not all bad now is it. Have a look at the normaly sex Beyonce By FAR one of the worst hair 'dos of all time. Feeling a little sheepish are we, J-Lo? Sienna Miller is a style maven, but her tresses come up looking greasy, limp, and unkempt. Take a shower, girl! Did Madonna even look in the mirror before rolling out of bed and parading around in PUBLIC with hair like this? At least dye your roots, Madge. SHAME.

"Stress and Hair Loss"

Stress has been closely associated with temporary hair loss for a few years now. As more and more individuals report hair loss as a symptom while going through periods of high stress (such as divorce, lost jobs, deaths in the family, and even childbirth) more doctors are looking into the medical connection of these two conditions.

How Stress Effects Hair Growth Patterns

Although some people may notice hair loss during extreme periods of stress, it is more likely that the hair loss will first be noticed after the stressful period has pasted. This is due to the effects of stress on the hair growth pattern. When an individual experiences intense stress chemicals in the body will transmit signals to the hair follicles, which causes them to enter a resting phase. During this phase there is no new hair growth. During the next few months hair will be shed normally but new growth will not occur to take its place. This uneven pattern can cause hair to appear thinner and eventually result in hair loss.
Once the stressful episode has ended the hair follicles will stay in this resting period for a period of time and new hair growth will not start for three to six months. This can lead to further stress in the individual as they notice more and more hair falling out and no new hair growing to take its place. If the stress from this condition is too intense the cycle can be prolonged and will result in further hair loss.

Will the Hair Loss Be Permanent?

Stress induced hair loss is usually temporary in nature. However, if the stress event is very prolonged or if the hair loss causes further stress then the condition could turn permanent. On average the hair loss will continue until the cause of the stress is eliminated for good. Once the cause is eliminated the hair growth pattern will return to normal within six months and new hair growth will be visible.

Curbing the Stress and Stopping the Hair Loss

The best way to deal with stress induced hair loss is to learn how to manage your stress levels before they affect your hair growth patterns. For regular day-to-day stressors, such as job worries, martial spats, and child rearing problems, a regime of thirty minutes of relaxation per day is a great antidote to hair loss. Find an activity that you really enjoy, such as reading, exercising, painting, chatting with friends, and indulge in the activity uninterrupted for at least thirty minutes each day. If you can't fit in a daily hobby break then at least use your shower or bathing time to sneak in a little relaxation. While showering let your mind wander to pleasant thoughts and spend five minutes clearing your head and relaxing your body.

For bigger stressors, like divorce, money problems, deaths in the family, or job loses, you may need to seek help in dealing with your stress. Support groups, counsellors, and therapists are great resources for dealing with overwhelming stress. You can also schedule an appointment with your doctor if you feel the stress is too great to handle on your own.

Once you have learned ways to control stress and made them a habit in your daily life you should be free from the effects of stress induced hair loss.

“Post Break Up Hair”

Not a day passes without someone coming into the salon demanding a drastic style and color change. Hairdressers call this phenomenon, “Post Break Up Hair.” Jack may not know it yet, but Jill is filing for divorce and washing that man right out of her hair!.....

The gender truth is that women like to cleanse, and why not? If ever there was a time to renovate body and soul, this is it, and serves the additional benefit of irritating Jack beyond all rationale.

This set me thinking of what rules should apply to such a change, and just as quickly I realized that any rules I would prescribe would defeat the very joy of throwing rules and caution to the wind. Drastic change is after all, drastic, and should not be encumbered by such things as reason or purpose.

In the end, hair is just hair, and grows back, unlike cutting off the nose to spite the face. Colour and length are important, but not nearly as important as the image, the message you want to send. My message would be, “Look at me! I am young, fresh, independent, confident, and free of you!” If I did it right, it would also say, “I look hot, and I am on my way out the door!

To send this message I think the hair needs to be off the shoulder or shorter with great movement and color that just explodes into the room. If you are going red, then go really red, not just a few red strands woven into your old yesterday hair, but a bold, vibrant red so alarming that burly firemen feel uneasy in your presence; or perhaps a deep mysterious black with cool blue hues that play in the moonlight; or a thick rich chocolate brown that begs to be served with strawberries and champagne; or maybe a striking blonde so dynamically brilliant that every woman in the room hates you, and grown men are reduced to tears because they haven’t met you.

Let your new life BEGIN!.

Cool Colour!

The most-wanted hair colours of the season are often inspired by the hottest celebs on the circuit. Sienna Miller, Posh and Jennifer Aniston have spawned mainstream copycat mania in less time than it takes to say 'tint brush and foils', while edgier stars such as Gwen Stefani, Sarah Harding and Keira Knightley inspire the urban-cool crowd. However the potential to get a colour change wrong is considerable. Ignore at your peril skin tone, eye colour, brow colour and your hair's texture and condition, as they will all have a bearing on how successful the outcome is. With deluxe-natural getting the nod this season, it's all about making a perfect marriage between features and follicles, improving on Mother Nature rather than going all GM, so to speak. 'Stripy, too vibrant or unnatural-looking colour does not translate into expensive hair!

If you're heading to the salon, a professional opinion from your stylist is worth listening to, as what works for your favourite superstar might do you no favours at all. And if you're doing it yourself at home, choosing a shade that's either two shades lighter or two shades darker than your natural colour is about as adventurous as you should get.

Skin tone – cool
Skin with pale pink undertones is classified as cool. Eyes are usually blue or grey. Blue-eyed blondes are the classic male fantasy and blue-eyed brunettes look unusual and striking, the right brown shade making eyes look more intensely blue. Grey eyes go with everything.

Golden rule: use predominantly ash tones to neutralise the pinkness in your skin if you regularly fall into the flush/blush/looks-a-bit-of-a-lush category, despite being pre-menopausal, unselfconscious and sober.

Skin tone - warm
Your complexion is often described as 'peaches and cream' and has yellow undertones, or you could have an olive skin, Mediterranean, Asian, dark or black skin. Eye colour tends to be brown, hazel or green.

Golden rule: creamy is usually dreamy, but brown eyes, dark brows and blonde hair need careful blending, and picking up on a toning brown and combining it with blonde will blur the join, as it were. The brunette buzz is for golden, rich browns and melting, milk-chocolate shades. Sallow complexions don't tend to be flattered by yellow gold or light copper tones, but intense dark chocolates, deep reds and burgundies will have an energising effect on skin that looks jaded.

Lady GaGa "hair hat"

Lady GaGa is "wearing" a hat here that's made entirely out of her own hair. Simply crazy or genius?