The direction of hair growth on your head varies depending on the specific area of your scalp. Generally, hair grows outward and downward, but it's not uniform. To determine the specific direction in any given area, you can use a simple method, as outlined in the reference:
How to Determine Hair Growth Direction
The reference provides a clear, practical approach:
- Use a credit card: Glide the long edge of a credit card across your skin.
- Identify "against the grain": Notice the direction in which you are lifting the hairs. This is considered against the grain of hair growth.
- Identify "with the grain": Observe the direction in which you are laying the hairs down. This indicates the direction the hair is growing, or "with the grain".
This method allows you to precisely determine the growth direction in any given area of your scalp.
Understanding Hair Grain
Understanding your hair's growth direction, or grain, is important for several reasons:
- Cutting Hair: Cutting hair against the grain can lead to an uneven or undesirable look.
- Styling Hair: Knowing the direction of growth helps to create hairstyles that follow the natural flow of your hair and are easier to maintain.
- Shaving: Shaving against the grain can lead to ingrown hairs and skin irritation.
- Hair Loss: Hair loss patterns can sometimes follow specific growth directions.
Examples
Here are some typical examples, although individual results may vary:
- Front hairline: Hair typically grows forward and slightly downward.
- Crown: Hair growth direction can radiate outwards in a spiral pattern, which is commonly referred to as a 'cowlick'.
- Sides: Hair typically grows downward.
- Back of the head: Hair typically grows downward.
It is best to use the credit card method on various parts of your head to accurately determine your individual hair growth patterns.
