Ten interesting facts you may not have known about your hair

These days, with so much information available to us at any given time, it’s easy to think that we know it all – especially when it comes to our hair. For millions of people worldwide, their hair is their pride and joy, and they spend plenty of time caring for it to ensure it looks its best. 

But despite the time and effort you spend on your hair, how much do you actually know about it? Here are ten interesting facts you may not have known about your hair:

1. Hair grows slightly faster during summer and in warmer climates, because heat stimulates circulation and hair growth.

2. The most common hair colour in the world is black, and the least common is red, existing in around 1% of the world’s population. Blonde hair makes up about 2% of the world’s population. 

3. The main ingredient in hair is keratin, a protein also found in our nails and teeth. 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. It helps repair and nourish the hair, making it more manageable in the process. Try Two Oceans Keratin + Argan Smoothing Shampoo (R109.95) and Conditioner (R109.95). With 90% naturally derived ingredients, this duo helps hydrate, soften and add shine. 

4. 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 our entire head of hair could support a weight of up to two tonnes!

5. Hair becomes stretchy when it’s wet, and a healthy strand can stretch up to 30% of its length when wet (this is also when the hair is at its most vulnerable). Strengthen your hair to help it hold up under all conditions by ensuring your shampoo and conditioner have moisturising formulas and are filled with natural ingredients that repair and protect. Try Jozi Curls Cleanse Hydrating Shampoo (R74.95), which contains marula oil and raw shea butter to hydrate and strengthen. Follow with Jozi Curls Moisture Moisturizing Conditioner (R74.95) which is infused with baobab, moringa and aloe vera to provide moisture, repair and add shine.   

6. Hair reveals plenty of information about your body and health. You can detect everything that has gone through someone’s blood stream 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. It’s important to treat your scalp to nourishing hair care to maintain healthy hair follicles and hair growth. Try Naturally Africa Hair & Scalp Oil (R99.95). 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. It is estimated that around 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. Try Two Oceans Professional Regal Blue Shampoo (R109.95) and Conditioner (R109.95). Suitable for brown and blonde hair, it contains blue pigments that neutralize unwanted brassy tones. 

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 (R129.95). 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.

Learn anything new? Regardless of your lesser-known hair facts knowledge, most of us know the importance of taking good care of our hair and scalps to ensure healthy hair that’s soft, moisturised, shiny and manageable. Taking care to choose good quality products specifically suited to your unique needs can make all the difference in maintaining healthy (and healthy-looking) hair.

For more information on these ranges please visit https://twooceanshaircare.com/.