For decades, biology textbooks have taught that human hair grows because cells at the base of the follicle divide and push the hair shaft upward. But new research suggests that explanation is incomplete. Scientists have now found evidence that hair growth is driven by a hidden pulling force generated by moving cells inside the follicle.
The discovery challenges a long-standing view of how hair grows and could lead researchers to rethink everything from hair loss treatments to regenerative medicine.
The findings come from researchers at L'Oréal Research & Innovation and Queen Mary University of London and were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Inside the Hair Follicle
A hair follicle is a complex structure embedded within the skin that produces and supports each strand of hair. At the base of the follicle is the hair bulb, where cells rapidly divide to create new hair. Scientists have traditionally believed that these newly formed cells acted like a conveyor belt, pushing older cells upward and causing hair to emerge from the scalp.
