Cloning as a general term refers to the process of producing genetically
identical organisms. On the other side, hair cloning is an attempt to develop
a method in which healthy follicle stem cells are harvested and multiplied.
The production of new hair follicles will enable multiplication and these are
then transplanted into the recipient area. Hair cloning will induce the
stimulation or production of "hair seeds", which are actually follicles that
are produced from an isolated stem cell.
Science research is putting high
hopes that this concept of hair restoration will make all other procedures
obsolete, including hair-growing medications. So far, it is still under
intensive development but they are optimistic about taking it to the next
level.
Researchers who are working on this technique would not call it cloning but
"hair multiplication". It is not hair that is generated automatically but it
is the follicle cells that are multiplied. Follicles are necessary because it
is the main organ that brings about the growth of new hair strands. Without
the living follicle, your hair will not grow.
Theoretically, hair cloning could end up substituting traditional hair
transplant techniques like micro-grafting.
What is the concept of hair multiplication? The scheme is to take these
cells from the bulb of the hair, grow them through a medium, and the result
comes out with an increased number of hair seeds. These are actually follicle
cells you could inject into the scalp for hair to grow in it. These follicles
or hair seeds are generated from the stem cell and not from the strand of
hair.
If this research will fully develop into a refined technology, all other
procedures will be superseded. Implantation will be the method of introducing
hair into the scalp. It will no longer be hair transplant surgery and
grafting.