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Summary: In a new study, researchers discovered that age-related stiffness in hair follicle stem cells can inhibit hair growth. By enhancing the production of a tiny RNA, miR-205, they managed to soften these cells, encouraging hair growth in both young and old mice. These findings indicate the potential for stimulating hair growth by manipulating cell mechanics. This could pave the way for novel treatments for hair loss, with future tests set to determine whether topically delivered miR-205 can stimulate hair growth in humans. Key Facts:
Source: Northwestern University Coaxing hair growth in aging hair follicle stem cells Softening stiff hair follicle stem cells with a microRNA regrows hair  Just as people’s joints can get stiff as they age and make it harder for them to move around, hair follicle stem cells also get stiff, making it harder for them to grow hair, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. But if the hair follicle’s stem cells are softened, they are more likely to produce hair, the scientists found. Northwestern scientists discovered how to soften up those stem cells to enable them to grow hair again. In a study in mice published this week in PNAS, the investigators report that they can soften the stem cells by boosting the production of a tiny RNA, miR-205, that relaxes the hardness of the cells. When scientists genetically manipulated the stem cells to produce more miR-205, it promoted hair growth in young and old mice. “They started to grow hair in 10 days,” said corresponding author Rui Yi, the Paul E. Steiner Research Professor of Pathology and professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “These are not new stem cells being generated. We are stimulating the existing stem cells to grow hair. A lot of times we still have stem cells, but they may not be able to generate the hair. “Our study demonstrates the possibility of stimulating hair growth by regulating cell mechanics. Because of the potential to deliver microRNA by nanoparticles directly into the skin, next we will test whether topically delivered miR-205 can stimulate hair growth first in mice. If successful, we will design experiments to test whether this microRNA can promote hair growth potentially in humans.” This study was conducted in genetically engineered mouse models. The scientists used advanced microscopy tools, including atomic force microscopy, to measure the stiffness and two-photon microscopy to monitor cell behaviors in live animals. The article is titled “MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells.” Other Northwestern authors include Jingjing Wang, Yuheng Fu and Kathleen Green. Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases grants AR066703, AR071435, AR043380, AR041836 and P30AR075049 of the National Institutes of Health. About this genetics research news
Author: Marla Paul Source: Northwestern University Contact: Marla Paul – Northwestern University Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News Original Research: Open access. “MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells” by Rui Yi et al. PNAS Abstract MicroRNA-205 promotes hair regeneration by modulating mechanical properties of hair follicle stem cells Stiffness and actomyosin contractility are intrinsic mechanical properties of animal cells required for the shaping of tissues. However, whether tissue stem cells (SCs) and progenitors located within SC niche have different mechanical properties that modulate their size and function remains unclear. Here, we show that hair follicle SCs in the bulge are stiff with high actomyosin contractility and resistant to size change, whereas hair germ (HG) progenitors are soft and periodically enlarge and contract during quiescence. During activation of hair follicle growth, HGs reduce contraction and more frequently enlarge, a process that is associated with weakening of the actomyosin network, nuclear YAP accumulation, and cell cycle reentry. Induction of miR-205, a novel regulator of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, reduces actomyosin contractility and activates hair regeneration in young and old mice. This study reveals the control of tissue SC size and activities by spatiotemporally compartmentalized mechanical properties and demonstrates the possibility to stimulate tissue regeneration by fine-tuning cell mechanics. Rosemary Oil Hair Hack Spurs 331% Search Increase Analysis of Google search data has revealed that online searches for ‘rosemary oil’ have skyrocketed 135% over the past year in the UK due to the huge surge of interest generated through TikTok.  A new finding by beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha analysed Google search data for searches related to the hair hack, which revealed a 135% increase over the past year and a 695% increase over the past five years just in the United Kingdom. Searches for ‘rosemary oil’ have also gained interest across the globe, with an increase in worldwide searches of 331% over the past five years. The interest in rosemary oil gained popularity on social media app TikTok after beauty and wellness influencers shared their experiences using the product while showcasing the results after around six weeks.  The interest in rosemary oil alongside the hashtag #hairtok has racked up an astonishing number of views. The hashtag #rosemaryoil has totalled 1.3 billion views, alongside #rosemaryoilforhairgrowth reaching 212.3 million views, proving the curiosity of TikTok users in the oil. What does rosemary oil do to your hair? According to Fresha's research, rosemary oil stimulates and promotes hair growth, battles against dandruff, and prevents premature greying; it is also proven to add shine and a healthy glow to the hair after a more extended period of regular use.  The beauty influencers on TikTok recommend using rosemary oil as part of your hair care routine, not to expect results after the first few uses and sticking with it as you could see incredible differences in your hair's health even after six weeks. Searches for ‘rosemary oil for hair’ have seen a 168% increase over the past year in the United Kingdom alone, as well as an increase of 73% in the United States and 52% worldwide over the past twelve months. The interest in tutorials has also skyrocketed on Google, with searches for ‘how to use rosemary oil in hair’ increasing 547% over the past year in the United Kingdom. How often should you use rosemary oil in your hair? It is recommended if you have thinner, lighter and easily damaged hair, you should use the oil once a week as a treatment. If dandruff is what you want to battle, then use a few drops of rosemary oil alongside gentler oils such as coconut, caster or jojoba oil; it can be used up to four times a week for shorter periods of time.  Mixing rosemary oil with lighter oils such as these will help dilute the rosemary oil's strength and work to soothe and nurture the hair while using the natural oils. Interest in haircare has been on the rise, particularly since the hashtag #hairtok gained popularity on the app. The hashtag is commonly used by those sharing tips and tricks on styling, maintaining and looking after all hair types, allowing users to search and explore the millions of videos posted; #hairtok has surpassed 65.3 billion views. How many people want to improve their haircare routine? If you want to up your haircare routine and give your locks the best chance of looking gorgeous for longer, the first thing to do is figure out your hair type and hair needs. Your hairstylist will suggest getting regular haircuts every eight to twelve weeks and provide some advice on what your hair really needs. If your hair is dull and lifeless, it is important for you to understand what products to use and how to use them; the same as if your hair is thin and weak, your hairstylist should help you with answers to all your questions.  Searches for ‘healthy hair mask’ have increased by 575% over the past month in the United Kingdom alone, proving the desperate urge to seek the healthiest products and treatment for improving routines. Not only are nourishing hair masks gaining interest online, but searches for how to achieve heatless curls to avoid heat damage have also risen tremendously worldwide, with searches for ‘heatless curls’ increasing by 274% worldwide. William Zeqiri, founder and CEO of Fresha, commented on the findings:  Hairstylists say there are many rules they never break when it comes to hair — and you may be breaking some of them every day. By Jillian Wilson  Between bobs, pixie cuts, balayage, bangs, cornrows and extensions, there are many hairstyles that come and go throughout your lifetime. But while these hairstyles may change every few months or years, your hair health is something that’s important to upkeep throughout your life. You probably know the basics of hair health, but hairstylists say there are many rules they never break when it comes to their or their clients’ hair ― and you may be breaking some of them every day. Below, hairstylists share what they won’t do to their hair. Here are the top mistakes. Applying Conditioner At The Roots Who knew that your conditioner application should actually start at your ends, not at your roots? We’ve all been conditioning our hair incorrectly, according to Tatum Neill, the creative director for Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes and Elevate Hair. “Ideally, it’s almost like shampoo and conditioner should be applied in opposite,” Neill said. “Typically when we have dirt and oil in the hair, it’s at the scalp level. And typically when we have dryness and damage on the hair, it’s on the end.” “Most people put shampoo on the top of the head, and they put conditioner on top of the head, right?” Well, you don’t need conditioner at your roots, he explained. “You have natural sebum that’s coming out every day — the top of your head, the roots, should have plenty of oil.” Applying shampoo and conditioner at the roots is habitual, but conditioner really matters most at your ends, Neill added. Or Skipping Conditioner, For That Matter “I never shampoo or detox hair without adding moisture back in,” said Ash Therese, the salon director and head stylist at The Bird House Salon in New York. “I know that finer hair types, a lot of people feel like conditioner [or] leave-in conditioners can weigh their hair down. In my opinion, there is a product for everyone.” It’s an important step — just like you apply moisturizer to your skin, you should apply moisture to your hair. For color-treated hair, this is even more important, she noted. “Always adding moisture back in, whether it be a leave-in conditioner — I know a lot of people are doing K18 right now, which I think is a wonderful product — or just conditioning in the shower,” Therese said. And that should be a good-quality conditioner, she said. “The two-in-one shampoo conditioner things, I would never use on my client’s hair or my own,” she added. Only Using Sulfate-Free Shampoo “I wouldn’t use a sulfate-free shampoo exclusively to wash my hair,” said Titi Bello, a hair coach and founder of Ori Lifestyle, a natural hair care brand and education company. While sulfate-free shampoos do not strip the hair as much as shampoos with sulfates, Bello said there is a place for both kinds of shampoo in a healthy hair regimen. Sulfates are helpful in achieving a deep clean, which can help with both scalp and hair health, she said. “I’ve had too many clients that suffer from dry scalp or flaky scalp, just low-key scalp conditions ... and often when I ask them to introduce a shampoo with sulfates and when they do so, within a month they find that the scalp issue has cleared,” Bello said. Sulfate-free shampoos gained popularity when sulfates were wrongly linked to cancer, Bello said. Since then, studies have found that sulfates are not carcinogenic. For some people, sulfates can cause irritation (as can any product), Bello said. If that’s you, don’t use a shampoo with sulfates. But for those who don’t have this problem, Bello said it’s a good idea to use each type of shampoo regularly.  Skipping Heat Protectant “Something I stress, like the number one thing in my chair, is heat protection,” said Shantel Keeley, the co-owner of Platinum Salon in Connecticut. “I never style my hair or any of my client’s hair without using some kind of heat protection product.” “Heat damage is irreversible. I’ve seen pretty extreme damage come from hot tools,” she added. With hot tools being so accessible and touted as a way to save time and money, it’s easy to fall into frequent heat styling — but it’s important to make sure you protect your hair before applying high heat to it. When it comes to what product to use, Keely said she often uses Magic Myst, which is a heat protectant and leave-in conditioner. It’s important that you don’t let a heat protectant sit around in your cabinet for too long. “You should always be checking the expiration date on the back of your products because they do lose their effectiveness,” Keely said. She added that most beauty products have a number on the back (that looks like this) that tells you how many months the opened product is good for, whether that’s 12, 18, 24 months and so on. Not Drying Roots First When Using A Blow Dryer “If you are blow drying your hair, it’s important that you think about drying it from your roots to ends,” Neill said. If you dry the ends first, any moisture from the roots is going to go down to the end of your hair and get the ends wet again. This will not only ruin your hairstyle but require you to go through it again with a hot blow dryer, which can result in damage. “A lot of times people don’t focus enough ... at the root level to accomplish their style,” Neill said. Skimping On Product Quality While you can, of course, find affordable, well-made hair tools, Therese said price can sometimes reflect the quality of an item (like with anything). “I’ve seen many clients come in who have bought the, you know, $15, $20 blow dry brush and the plates get so hot and the air is coming through the plate [and] it’s causing significant breakage,” Therese said. “I just always suggest doing your research, especially when it comes to hot tools because ... things are priced a lot of times, not always, with their quality in mind,” she added. In other words, if you find a blow-dry brush or curling iron for $15 and the original is $150, there is usually a reason and sometimes it is quality control, Therese said.  Turning The Temperature Of A Curling Iron Or Straightener All The Way Up It should go without saying that frying your hair is not a good thing, but that’s exactly what you’re doing when you put your hot tools on their highest setting. While your curling iron may go up to 450 degrees, you don’t want to do your hair at the high setting. “I always tell people to keep it at 350 or lower,” Keely said. Super-high heat can actually toast your hair, she noted. “The best thing you can do is to try to prevent any damage before it happens, Keely said. Relying On Heavy Tension Styles “I really try to stay away from heavy tension styling that really puts a lot of stress on the hair shaft or hair follicles that can over time cause hair loss,” said Nikka Whisenhunt, a natural hair stylist and trichology specialist at Aesthetics Salon in Virginia. This includes braids and also weaves when the braids are too tight. She stays away from these kinds of styles for both herself and her clients for longevity’s sake. Over time, these styles can cause trauma to the scalp and result in thinning hair or bald patches. Bello agreed with this and said while she used to wear braids often when she was younger, she now only wears them once a year. Why? Just like our muscles, our hair ages, too, Bello said. “Hair ages — it’s not as strong as it once was it’s not as dense as it once was,” Bello said. “As we age, I am a firm believer in tailoring our hair practices to our hair needs.” And in this case, that means taking the pressure off her scalp by wearing braids less frequently. Ignoring Maintenance Whisenhunt said she always makes sure her clients stay up-to-date on their hair cuts and trims along with their deep-conditioning treatments and scalp health. This helps keep the hair healthy all year, whether you have untouched hair (meaning no chemical treatments) or are someone who likes to get highlights or other chemical treatments. from HuffPost
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