CORBINS
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I found this information from: http://www.keratin.com/aa/aa002.shtml
Just for anyone who would like some information on our hair biology.
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Ethnic differences
Each individual is unique and hair production rate, size, and shape differs for everyone but in general there are some differences in the nature of hair fiber for people of different ethnic backgrounds.
Asian hair is on average the thickest and most coarse hair compared to Caucasian and African American hair. It is almost always straight and circular in cross section. The density of Asian hair on the scalp (follicles per unit area of skin) is less than that typically observed in Caucasians The density of hair follicles in African Americans is also lower than for Caucasians on average. At the lowest end of the spectrum the density of Asian may be just 90,000 scalp follicles and rarely gets above 120,000 scalp follicles.
Caucasian hair can be quite variable in its presentation with straight, wavy or curly hair. The fiber can be circular or oval in cross section and is on average thinner than Asian hair. Hair follicle density varies and density can be approximately related to hair color. Red haired people have the least dense scalp hair growth of Caucasians, blonds the most dense and brown haired people somewhere in the middle. Denstiy can range from 100,000-150,000 scalp hair follicles
African American hair is frequently tightly coiled, or spiral hair. In cross section it is elliptical or almost flat and ribbon-like in some cases. This means that there is more strength and rigidity to the fiber across the area of greatest cross section but the hair is much more pliable across the narrow section. This results in the curls of hair all naturally flexing and coiling along the ribbon. There is little or no coiling from side to side. The sclap hair density is pretty much the same as that seen in Caucasians.
Different hair fiber types are produced by different hair follicles. Large straight hair follicles with a circular cross section produce thick straight hair. Curly flat hair follicles make curly elliptical or ribbon shaped cross section hair. Most African Americans have very curly, flattened hair follicles in their skin that produce the highly coiled hair. Some research suggests that the hair follicles are actually spiral/spring shaped if you were able to look down the length of these hair follicles.
The shape of the hair follicle acts as a mold for the creation of the hair fiber. Deep in the hair follicle, where cells are added to the fiber at the root, the hair is soft and pliable. The cells of the fiber take the shape of the surrounding hair follicle sheath. As the cells are squashed together and keratinized, the chemical bonds form and hold the hair fiber into the shape of the hair follicle. Hence curly hair follicles make curly hair fibers
Just for anyone who would like some information on our hair biology.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethnic differences
Each individual is unique and hair production rate, size, and shape differs for everyone but in general there are some differences in the nature of hair fiber for people of different ethnic backgrounds.
Asian hair is on average the thickest and most coarse hair compared to Caucasian and African American hair. It is almost always straight and circular in cross section. The density of Asian hair on the scalp (follicles per unit area of skin) is less than that typically observed in Caucasians The density of hair follicles in African Americans is also lower than for Caucasians on average. At the lowest end of the spectrum the density of Asian may be just 90,000 scalp follicles and rarely gets above 120,000 scalp follicles.
Caucasian hair can be quite variable in its presentation with straight, wavy or curly hair. The fiber can be circular or oval in cross section and is on average thinner than Asian hair. Hair follicle density varies and density can be approximately related to hair color. Red haired people have the least dense scalp hair growth of Caucasians, blonds the most dense and brown haired people somewhere in the middle. Denstiy can range from 100,000-150,000 scalp hair follicles
African American hair is frequently tightly coiled, or spiral hair. In cross section it is elliptical or almost flat and ribbon-like in some cases. This means that there is more strength and rigidity to the fiber across the area of greatest cross section but the hair is much more pliable across the narrow section. This results in the curls of hair all naturally flexing and coiling along the ribbon. There is little or no coiling from side to side. The sclap hair density is pretty much the same as that seen in Caucasians.
Different hair fiber types are produced by different hair follicles. Large straight hair follicles with a circular cross section produce thick straight hair. Curly flat hair follicles make curly elliptical or ribbon shaped cross section hair. Most African Americans have very curly, flattened hair follicles in their skin that produce the highly coiled hair. Some research suggests that the hair follicles are actually spiral/spring shaped if you were able to look down the length of these hair follicles.
The shape of the hair follicle acts as a mold for the creation of the hair fiber. Deep in the hair follicle, where cells are added to the fiber at the root, the hair is soft and pliable. The cells of the fiber take the shape of the surrounding hair follicle sheath. As the cells are squashed together and keratinized, the chemical bonds form and hold the hair fiber into the shape of the hair follicle. Hence curly hair follicles make curly hair fibers
