Randomosity: Hair

Welcome to Randomosity, my new chain of posts dedicated to nothing more than fun facts. Sometimes simple facts can brighten a day, start a long discussion, or give someone inspiration. Hopefully, you'll enjoy these simple posts on occasion and will find the facts as interesting as I do.

Today's subject is hair.

Fact #1 - Humans have an average number of head hairs based on factors of race, hair color, and of course age. At a prime age, between 25 and 30, you have somewhere between 80,000 and 150,000 hairs. Redheads sport the fewest hairs, averaging between 80,000  and 90,000. Dark-haired people (those with brown and black hair) have between 100,000 and 120,000. And blonds rock the greatest number at 130,000 to 150,000 hairs.

Fact #2 - Black hair is the dominant hair color in the world. Only 2% of the world's population have blond hair, and only 1% have red. Thus red is the rarest of all hair colors. Interestingly, 13% of Scottish people have red hair (the highest concentration by ethnicity), and the ancient Greeks believed redheads became vampires when they died.

Fact #3 - Hair grows at an average speed of half an inch per month. The only thing in or on the human body that grows faster is bone marrow.

Fact #4 - In 1950, just 7% of women dyed their hair. In 2013, that number had risen to 75%, and a quarter of these women dye their hair so often they can't remember what their actual hair color is anymore.

Fact #5 - While hair can be used to gather information about race, ethnicity, diet, blood health and genetics, one thing it cannot give you any information on is gender.

Want more fun hair facts? Check out this Infographic!