A woman’s hair has been referred to as her crown, and for many of us, our hair has become our pride and joy. We spend so much time, effort and money on caring for our locks to ensure it is at its best. However, it’s not just about products. It helps to understand how hair functions and what makes it so unique.
Here are 10 interesting facts you didn’t know about your hair:
1. Your hair grows a little bit faster during summer and in warmer climates. That’s because heat stimulates circulation and hair growth. This is also why it is important to pay attention and give your hair some extra love during the colder months or if you live in colder climates.
2. The most common hair colour in the world is black, and the least common is red – only 1% of the world’s population has red hair. Blonde hair makes up about 2% of the world’s population.
3. The main ingredient in hair is keratin, a protein which can be found in our nails and teeth too. It is also found in our internal organs and glands. If your hair is damaged or very coarse, you may want to switch to a keratin-rich shampoo and conditioner. Keratin helps to repair and nourish the hair, making it more manageable in the process. Try Two Oceans Keratin + Argan Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner. With 90% naturally derived ingredients, this duo helps hydrate, soften your hair and add shine.
4. Just one strand of hair can support up to 100g in weight. If you consider that the average person has between 100,000 and 150,000 strands of hair on their head, that would mean that our entire head of hair could support a weight of up to 1814.37 kg!
5. Hair becomes stretchy when it’s wet, and a healthy strand can stretch up to 30% of its length when wet. Remember this is also when the hair is at its most vulnerable state. Strengthen your hair by ensuring your shampoo and conditioner have moisturising formulas and are filled with natural ingredients that repair and protect your mane. Try Jozi Curls Cleanse Hydrating Shampoo, which contains marula oil and raw shea butter to hydrate and strengthen your hair.
6. Hair reveals plenty of information about your body and health. You can detect everything that has gone through someone’s bloodstream through their hair (including vitamins and minerals, drugs and alcohol), making it extremely useful in forensic evidence.
7. The only part of our hair that is not dead is the bit within our scalp. This is why it’s important to treat your scalp with nourishing hair care to maintain healthy hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. Try Naturally Africa Hair & Scalp Oil. This lightweight, non-greasy oil contains castor oil, tea tree oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E to nourish the scalp, promote shiny hair and increase the hair’s strength, naturally.
8. There are 14 different elements found in each hair strand, the main ones being nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Bet you didn’t know that this list also includes gold!
9. About 70% of the world’s women colour their hair at some point in their lives. If you fall into this category, invest in hair care products specially designed for coloured hair to maintain your colour, shine and keep your hair looking vibrant for longer.
10. The average woman spends about two hours per week styling her hair. Heat styling can be very drying and even damaging. If you blow dry, flat iron or curl your hair regularly, invest in a leave-in conditioning product to help keep your hair soft and hydrated. Try Naturally Africa Leave-In Conditioner Infused with jojoba and vegetable protein, this restorative formulation seals in moisture, leaving your hair and scalp soothed and hydrated. Assisting with hair comb-ability and manageability, this formulation also has heat protection properties.
Choosing good quality products specifically suited to your unique needs can make all the difference in maintaining healthy hair.
Compiled by Marian Volkwyn
Also see: The secrets to nourished and shiny hair
