Dig into what biological factors influence hair growth, how it can change as you age, and how to take control of your scalp.

 

 

 

Watch the video:

 

 

and complete the sentences with the words below.

 

bulb · keratin · fibroblasts · follicles · genetics · shed · stem cells · testosterone

 

1. Hair grows from tube-shaped structures called hair ………….. .

2. At the base of each follicle is the hair …………. .

3. Hair cells become hard as they fill with ……….. proteins.

4. ………….. determine what type of hair should grow in different parts of the body.

5. The precise speed and duration of hair growth depend partly on a person’s ………….. .

6. When a follicle stops growing a strand, the hair eventually falls out or is ………….. .

7. As we age, follicles can run out of certain types of …………. .

8. Excess ……………  can contribute to baldness.

 

 

Key: 1. follicles; 2.bulb; 3. keratin; 4. fibroblasts; 5. genetics; 6. shed; 7. stem cells; 8. testosterone

 

 

Glossary

 

• scalp – the skin on the top of a person’s head where hair usually grows
• feat – an impressive achievement, especially one that requires skill, effort or courage
• to pluck out – to pull something out, usually using your fingers or tweezers
• strand – a single thin piece of hair, thread, wire, etc.
• brittle – easily broken, cracked or damaged; not strong or flexible
• luscious – (of hair, lips, etc.) very attractive, healthy-looking, thick or soft

 

Practice makes perfect

 

Word formation: Change the word in CAPITALS to fill in the blanks.

 

Human hair 1. ……. [GROW] is not indefinite; it’s 2. ……….. [PRECISE] controlled by an 3. ………… [EVOLUTION] “timer.” Each hair follicle cycles through growth (anagen), transition (catagen), and rest (telogen) phases. The maximum 4. ……… [LONG] of hair, whether on the scalp, arms, or eyelashes, is determined by the 5. ………. [GENETIC] programmed duration of its anagen phase, not its growth rate. This sophisticated system prevents 6. ………… [METABOLISM] expensive and functionally counterproductive perpetual growth, ensuring hair serves specific 7. ……….. [PROTECT] and insulating roles. While anagen duration is largely inherited, factors like 8. ……….. [NUTRITIOUS] , stress, and hormones significantly influence hair health and 9. ……… [LOSE], with androgens notably shortening scalp hair’s growth phase. This cycling is a refined, 10. ……….. [RENEW] biological mechanism.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2026/06/29/why-human-hair-only-grows-to-a-certain-length-a-biologist-explains

 

Key: 1. growth; 2. precisely; 3. evolutionary; 4. length; 5. genetically; 6. metabolically; 7. protective; 8. nutrition; 9. loss; 10. renewable

 

 

Discuss

 

• How important is your hair to you? Would you say it’s an important part of your appearance or not particularly?
• Have you ever changed your hairstyle dramatically? What made you do it?
• Do you think people spend too much time and money on their hair nowadays? Why?
• If you could genetically modify one completely harmless physical characteristic about yourself, what would you change? Why?
• What other things about the human body would you like scientists to explain? Why?

 

Watch and Revise!

 

How Long Can Your Hair Really Grow

 

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