Scientists say hair loss could soon be reversed – but what Jesus said about your hair matters even more

I can’t count the number of times that, as a child, I was mistaken for a boy. It all came down to the severe haircut that my mother deemed practical for a child who enjoyed building camps while playing in the garden, as well as her own pendulum-type reaction to being forced to have long hair in her childhood.

If clothes say a lot about us, hair says so much more. Our hair is uniquely personal to us, but what it expresses can be profound. Culture, ethnicity, marital status, age, race, faith, political affiliation, wealth and social status can all be communicated by our hairstyle. It’s not about vanity; hair is part of our core identity. We choose to cut it, colour it, curl it, straighten it, extend it, embellish it, shape it or shave it, but hair is bound up with the essence of who we are. It speaks of our individuality, our role, our personal growth as we face new chapters in life, and our changing moods. Some find the process of shaving their hair liberating; a way of kicking against social norms, making a statement about perceived oppression or pushing the boundaries of gender stereotypes. Others are more conservative.

READ MORE: How God helped me to embrace my natural hair

In many ways, for most of us, hair equates to dignity. It was standard practice to shave the heads of African slaves when they arrived on Western plantations years ago. Suspected French collaborators were routinely exposed to the public humiliation of having their heads shaved, a mark of their treachery, after World War II.

Perhaps this is why it’s such an emotional blow for us if we lose our hair. Statistics tell us that approximately one-third of women will experience this at some point in their lives.

Menopause and ageing can creep up on us, accompanied by unwelcome hair thinning.

Menopause and ageing can creep up on us, accompanied by unwelcome hair thinning. As women approach menopause, levels of oestrogen and progesterone decline. These hormones help keep hair in its growing phase for longer. When they decrease, hair follicles spend less time growing and more time resting, so hairs become finer, grow more slowly and fall out more easily. At the same time, the relative influence of androgens (male hormones such as testosterone) increases. Although women’s testosterone levels also decline with age, oestrogen falls more dramatically. This shift can cause some hair follicles, particularly on the crown and top of the scalp, to shrink (a process called miniaturisation). The result is thinner, less dense hair.

READ MORE: ‘Would I lose my other ovary? Would I lose my hair? Would I lose my life?’

Cancer strikes a bitter blow if our cycles of chemotherapy come with hair loss, because it strikes at the heart of who we are. Wearing a cold cap during treatment helps some people, but it’s not a universal guarantee. Neither is it a superficial thing. Nothing reminds you that you’re not in charge of your body more than losing your locks.

Of course, women can always wear a hat or scarf, or find a wig to cover their heads, but it’s not the same. Hair replacements have been available for years, involving surgically moving healthy hair follicles to thinning or bald areas. It’s fairly reliable but not suitable for everyone and can cost between £3,000–£10,000 depending on the number of grafts required and the techniques used. The majority of research into hair loss, including genome studies, has focused on men. Investigating patterns of female hair loss, German scientists were surprised that they didn’t find any overlap in the genes involved. Now, however, a group of Japanese scientists led by Prof Takashi Tsuji may have made the breakthrough women have been waiting for.

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Until now, there has been an understanding of two types of hair cells: one that creates a hair follicle and a second that instructs the hair where to grow.

Until now, there has been an understanding of two types of hair cells: one that creates a hair follicle and a second that instructs the hair where to grow. However, they only work when embedded into skin and connected with the underlying tissue; in a laboratory, nothing happens. Working with mice, the group discovered a third type of cell which, Tsuji says, ‘supports the development, growth and regeneration of hair follicles.’ In other words, these follicles can grow, shed and regrow hair; a potential breakthrough for the regrowth of natural hair.

Paul tells us that, culturally, a woman’s hair is her ‘glory’. Many of us who find a part of ourselves intrinsically linked to the keratin on our heads can agree. More pertinently, in Matthew 10, Jesus talks about the detailed level of care God has for His workmanship, whether it’s for common sparrows or for people. Apparently, He even keeps count of the number of hairs on our heads. For me, that changes every day, as even a quick brush involves some shedding. Whether Jesus’ statement was literal or illustrative, it’s a good reminder that each distinct part of my life is overseen, noted and matters to God. My identity must remain rooted in Him, not my hair.