Hair Biology Explained: Why Cutting Hair Doesn’t Change Its Texture or Pattern

 Hair Biology Explained: Why Cutting Hair Doesn’t Change Its Texture or Pattern

An Insightful Read for UPSC Aaspirants | By Suryavanshi IAS

Have you ever wondered why your hair grows back with the same shape, curl, or texture after a haircut? While it might seem like regular haircuts would eventually alter how your hair looks or feels, science tells a different story.

🔬 The Science of Hair Growth

Hair is made of keratin, a protein that forms dead fibre. When barbers cut your hair, they only trim the dead part, not the living follicle embedded in your scalp. It’s the follicle, located under the skin, that acts like a biological machine and determines:

• Hair thickness and colour

• Curl pattern (straight, wavy, or curly)

• Growth direction and length

The shape of the follicle (round, oval, kidney-shaped) determines whether hair will be straight or curly. Follicles are anchored at fixed angles in the skin, which controls the direction new strands grow.

Each strand goes through a life cycle:

• Anagen (Growth Phase): 2–6 years

• Catagen (Transition Phase)

• Telogen (Rest and Shedding Phase)

Cutting hair only removes the growing strand. The follicle remains unchanged — so the next hair that grows will have the same traits as before.

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🧬 What Actually Changes Hair Texture?

Only factors that affect the follicle itself can permanently change your hair’s characteristics:

• Hormonal changes (e.g., puberty, pregnancy, menopause)

• Medications

• Scarring or infections

• Age-related degeneration

• Medical treatments (like chemotherapy)

Thus, your hair won’t “grow back differently” unless biological processes inside your body influence the follicle.

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🏛️ Why This Matters for UPSC Aspirants

Understanding this concept is important for:

• Biology (General Science): For both Prelims and GS Paper III.

• Essay Paper: When writing on topics like “Science and Everyday Life” or “Human Physiology and Myths”

• Ethics and Healthcare Debates: Debunking myths is crucial to effective public health communication.

This topic links scientific literacy with civic education, a key part of civil services training and leadership.

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