10 Little-Known Facts About Human Hair

We know it can be teased, sprayed, gelled, and trimmed, but when it comes to hair, there are a lot of fascinating things about it that go unsaid.

We know it can be teased, sprayed, gelled, and trimmed, but when it comes to hair, there are a lot of fascinating things about it that go unsaid.

Here are 10 amazing yet often-overlooked facts about hair.

Number 10. It doesn't hold clear gender information. Hair can tell all sorts of things about the person it came from including race and blood type. What it can't readily reveal is whether it came from a man or a woman.

Number 9. Hair is the body's 2nd fastest growing tissue. The only one that grows faster is bone marrow.

Number 8. Lightening one's hair color goes back to ancient times. Roman women got the job done by using pigeon excrement. By the time the Renaissance rolled around, horse urine was all the rage.

Number 7. Blondes have more estrogen. The women, anyway. Some believe the extra dose of the female hormone is linked to the idea that gentlemen prefer them.

Number 6. Blondes are more likely to be born with learning disabilities. In a small sampling of affected children, 20 percent of them were blonde. Among non-disabled children in general, only 11 percent have the hair color.

Number 5. Eyelashes are a favorite hangout for a particular kind of mite. It's called Demodex and it likes to live at the base of the follicle, causing eyelid inflammation.

Number 4. The anticipation of sex makes hair grow faster. A study showed that sailors just about to go on shore leave experienced an accelerated growth rate. Once back on the ship, the pace slowed.

Number 3. Hair is used to remedy oil spills. Given its remarkable ability to attract greasy substances, environmental clean up crews use hair to help collect and control disaster fallout.

Number 2. Sideburns were named after General Ambrose E. Burnside. The Civil War leader's unique facial hair sparked a namesake trend, but over time the Burnside itself changed a bit and came to be known as side burns.

Number 1. Each hair follicle comes equipped with its own muscle. It also has exclusive access to nerve endings and blood cells.

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