Tender Love and Hair Trivia Quiz

Answer: Trichology

The scientific study of hair began by various scientists approximately mid-way through the 19th century. Hair is composed of keratin, a fibrous protein. A hair is made up of the follicle itself, which is the base in which the hair grows, and the shaft that springs from that follicle.

This shaft can be any thickness or shade. One interesting fact about the follicles of hair is that they are sometimes involved in the growing of skin over an injury.

Answer: Soy sauce

In 2013, it was revealed by a television journalist that a Chinese company, Hongshuai Soy Sauce, instead of using normal products derived from soy and wheat to make the product, was instead using hair obtained from barber shop and hairdressing salons.

They were treating these bags full of human hair (rich in protein and L-cysteine) to extract the necessary ingredients to manufacture this normally tasty sauce. Even human hair obtained from hospital waste was being used. The company manufacturing this sauce has since been closed by the authorities BUT the practice of manufacturing the tasty product from human hair is said to still continue. Just to really get your appetite writhing in delight, L-cysteine, whether or not manufactured from human hair, is also used in the making of bagels, pizza dough, as a flavouring in cooked meats, and in cough expectorants.

Answer: Fertiliser and weed deterrent

Smart Grow in Florida imports hair from India and China (the leftover that isn't used in making soy sauce apparently) to make weed preventative mats which also fertilise the ground. The mind behind this invention is one Phil McCrory. During the days he worked as a hairdresser, McCrory used to ponder how all those shorn locks on the floor of his salon could be utilised.

He eventually took bags of it home, stuffed it into stockings, and experimented as to how it could be used. Not only did he discover that his garden bloomed prolifically as a result, especially his roses, these mats are now used to soak up oils from large oil spills.

Their efficiency in this regard is that they can be washed afterwards, wrung out, and then reused for further oil spills. Human hair, as a result, is now in high demand. Clothing and furniture made from human hair has already been trialled, as well as other products.

Answer: Nape of the neck

Hair taken from this area of the head can also be tested to reveal if its owner lacks any particular nutritional qualities necessary for good health. Surprisingly, quite a lot of hair is needed to test for either drugs or lack of necessary food properties, almost a spoonful in fact.

As far as criminal tests are concerned, any results must be also backed up by blood and urine tests from the individual. This is because hair tests alone can reveal false positive findings. Many factors in the environment can contribute to the results.

These include air pollution, various shampoos, cigarette smoke and dye.

Answer: Black

Approximately speaking, only one percent of the world's population has red hair, two percent has blond or blonde hair and the rest of that 97% is split between black in the majority, and then varying shades of brown. The United States, when compared against other nations, has the largest total number of redheads in the world, coming in between two to six percent at any given time, but Scotland has the largest percentage of redheads.

This figure is an amazing thirteen percent.

Answer: Strong

Red is also considered to be the "hottest" colour in this survey. Somehow, that seems to be rather insulting. Blondes, you'll be pleased to know, are now being perceived in a more positive light. In a separate 2002 survey, 76% of 1,000 women interviewed thought that a female president of the United States would be likely to have brown hair, but a follow up survey several years later had the results split between blonde and brunette.

This is a result of top United States politician, Hillary Clinton, having blonde hair. Hair styles also influence the way a person is perceived as regards work prospects. Curly heads are considered to be carefree and easy to talk to, while long, carefully styled hair ladies are perceived as spending too much time on their hair rather than their work. Short, straight hair is the best style in this regard. Regarding the part, one down the middle of the head is looked upon more positively than a side part.

The whole thing is hogwash in my opinion, but these results are taken quite seriously.

Answer: Bone marrow

Marrow is the tissue on the inside of bones. It accounts for four percent of a body's weight, and produces 500 billion, yes billion, blood cells a DAY. Isn't that astonishing? It also links in with our lymphatic systems which help maintain the body's immune defences. Hair growth, which is just slower than bone marrow growth, takes place in three phases.

These are the growth or anagen phase, the transition or catagen phase, and the resting or telogen phase. Each hair remains in the growth stage for approximately one thousand days, briefly in the transition stage, and for approximately one hundred days in the last stage. That final phase is when hairs naturally fall out.

Answer: Blonde

The average number of hairs on the head of blond people is 146,000. Their hair is finer than a black head of hair, so more is needed to give the impression of body and bounce. People with black hair have, on average, 110,000 strands. Brunettes come with 100,000 strands per head, while redheads, with the thickest strands, only need 86,000 strands to produce their mops.

Other facts on hair are that cross sections of hair strands of people of Asian descent are circular in shape, people of African descent have hair that has oval cross sections, and the strands of European hair are either round or oval.

Answer: Shaving

The ladies still beat the gentlemen though when it comes to taking care of hair in one way or another. The average woman spends almost two hours per every working week on styling and blow drying their tresses, up until the age of sixty-five. That's a lot of time taken over an average lifespan, and the total works out about seven months.

Answer: India

What a very delightful image. As reported in the "Metro" newspaper in the United Kingdom on 17th February, 2009, Indian born grocer Radhakant Baijpai has made it into the Guinness World Book of Records as having the longest ear hair ever measured on a man. So proud is he of this fact, reports the paper, that Mr Hairy Ears is cultivating this prize possession in order to make it grow even longer. Furthermore, the article went on to say, this man's wife wishes sometimes that he would get rid of same, but generally agrees he should retain it - as a matter of family pride.