The Science
Researchers from L’Oréal Research & Innovation and Queen Mary University of London proved this by blocking cell division in follicles; they found that the hair continued to grow nearly unchanged. Conversely, when they disrupted a protein called actin, which allows cells to contract and move, hair growth plummeted by more than 80%. Dr. Inês Sequeira, a lead author, noted: “For decades, it was assumed that hair was pushed out… we found instead that it’s actively being pulled upwards by surrounding tissue acting almost like a tiny motor”.
Availability
This discovery is currently being used as a high-tech “live drug testing” tool to see exactly how follicles respond to treatments in real-time. While specific drugs targeting this “pulling motor” are in early development, this biophysical model is expected to lead to a new class of mechanical hair-loss therapies over the next decade.
How to benefit now
Understanding this mechanical grip allows doctors to better treat conditions like “loose anagen syndrome,” where the hair’s physical anchor is weak. Patients can currently benefit from regenerative treatments that improve the “biophysical health” and anchoring of the follicle in the scalp.