ABSTRACT
Is it possible to increase the longevity of hair? Of course not. Hair is a nonliving tissue that cannot be altered once produced by the follicle. While this is true from a scientific standpoint, it is not true from a cosmetic perspective. Cosmetically, the longevity of hair is determined by how long it remains attached to the head. Thus, anything that causes hair breakage shortens the longevity of the hair shaft. Much industry research is directed at methods of decreasing hair breakage, which is the most common cause of hair loss. In dermatology, we tend to focus on follicular causes of hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia, female pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium, to name some of the most common medically significant causes of hair loss. However, in the hair care industry, issues of grooming friction, cuticle condition, and weathering are evaluated as methods of increasing the longevity of hair.
