Hair

Hair

Although we may not reach Rapunzel fame, the majority of us have a great deal of hair on our heads - 120,000 to be exact. These long 'shafts' of dead hair are composed of keratin, a strong fibrous protein, that grows from a living follicle. Given we are mammals, it is peculiar that we've lost so much hair but retained in certain regions. There are many theories regarding this, such as better thermoregulation, loss of parasites, and communicative purposes, but there is no definite answer.
Wooden comb on the sand with marks.

Celeb hair loss treatments won't work. Here's what will

From microneedles to minoxidil, here's what could actually cure your baldness
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A man checks his hair in the mirror, with some bald patches.

The end of balding: We may have just found the secret to hair regrowth

A new study could pave the way for future baldness treatments
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Balding man holding head.

Balding cure: We may finally have a simple way to reverse hair loss

More than half of men and millions of women are affected by hair loss. It causes low self-esteem in some and anxiety in others. Thankfully, scientists around the world are getting to the roots of the problem with pioneering new treatments.
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A woman shaking out her long hair

Why does my arm and leg hair have growth limits, but my head hair doesn't?

Ever wondered why your arm and leg hair doesn't grow as much as your head hair? Here's the answer.
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A person looking in the mirror at their hair line.

Scientists may have finally found a cheap, natural cure for baldness

Balding has left researchers scratching their heads for decades. Could all that be about to change?
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The back of a male head with a bald stop appearing on the crown.

Scientists might soon cure balding. Here’s how

A new understanding of balding means scientists are poised to cure it once and for all.
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This air styler is (almost) as good as the Dyson Airwrap… at a fraction of the price

This air styler is (almost) as good as the Dyson Airwrap… at a fraction of the price

How do these two air stylers at opposite ends of the price spectrum stack up?
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Revamp Progloss Airstyle 6-in-1 review: Straighten, curl and diffuse with one tool

Revamp Progloss Airstyle 6-in-1 review: Straighten, curl and diffuse with one tool

We tested this affordable alternative to the Dyson Airwrap.
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Dyson Airwrap: Is it worthy of its internet fame? We tested it to find out © Dyson

Dyson Airwrap: Is it worthy of its internet fame? We tested it to find out

The internet is full of dupes and alternatives to the Dyson Airwrap – but is it worth splashing out on the real thing?
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Why are Sphynx cats hairless? © Getty Images

Why are Sphynx cats hairless?

The Sphynx cat has been around since 1966, and hails from Toronto in Canada.
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Why does chemo cause your hair to grow back differently? © Getty Images

Why does chemo cause your hair to grow back differently?

Your hair may grow back with a different colour and texture.
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Stress really does turn hair grey – but it can be reversed © Getty Images

Stress really does turn hair grey – but it can be reversed

This demonstrates that human biological ageing may not be a fixed process, researchers say.
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Are razors with more blades really better? © Getty Images

Are razors with more blades really better?

Asked by: Colin Rowley, via email
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Why is long hair often considered feminine? © Getty Images

Why is long hair often considered feminine?

Asked by: Peter Long, Slough
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My boyfriend is like a human Wookiee. Why are some guys so hairy? © Dan Bright

My boyfriend is like a human Wookiee. Why are some guys so hairy?

Where did you get your unusual jumper from…oh wait, that’s not a jumper!
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Stress really does turn your hair grey © Getty Images

Stress really does turn your hair grey

Stress causes nerves in the hair follicles to release the hormone norepinephrine, a study in mice has shown.
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Why is curly hair curly? © Getty Images

Thin hair, don't care: thicker hair is weaker, study finds

Thicker strands of hair are more likely to have a defect, making them more prone to breakage, the researchers believe.
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Why is curly hair curly? © Getty Images

Why is curly hair curly?

Forget about eating your crusts, here are the real reasons for those tumbling, curly locks.
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Can you be allergic to human hair? © Getty Images

Can you be allergic to human hair?

Human and animal hair are made of the same protein so do not cause an allergic reaction, but the sweat and saliva on animal skin cells can.
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New treatment could reduce hair loss in chemotherapy patients © Getty Images

New treatment could reduce hair loss in chemotherapy patients

Hair loss is arguably one of the most psychologically distressing side effects of modern cancer therapy.
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