# Hair Dead or Alive??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 28, 2000, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813 "2000-06-28T01:20:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813/1 "2000-06-28T01:20:19Z")

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Would hair be considered living or dead? Is there a difference between the follicle and the hair above the scalp?

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**Author:** ![Wood\_Thrush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b38774/32.png) [@Wood\_Thrush](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wood_Thrush)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813/2 "2000-06-28T01:31:16Z")

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Most cells in the bulb are alive. Most cells in the shaft are dead.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813/3 "2000-06-28T02:26:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> Most cells in the bulb are alive. Most cells in the shaft are dead.  
> \*\*

Which is why hair cannot be “healthy”, In spite of your favorite ads.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2000, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hair-dead-or-alive/23813/4 "2000-06-28T04:11:05Z")

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I’ve noticed most ads say “healthy _looking_” (or “healthier looking”).