Why do some people have curly hair and others have straight hair?

Introduction

You might have dazzling curls or beautiful straight hair but have you ever wondered why?

Follicles

In simple words, you can say a follicle is an organ that is responsible for producing hair. They play a big part in deciding whether your hair is curly or straight. Everybody’s follicles have a different shape. Some are more circle shaped, while others are more oval shaped.

Different Types of Follicles

If you have symmetrical (or circle shaped) follicles,then your follicles are responsible for producing straight hair. But if your follicles are asymmetrical (or oval shaped ), then your follicles are responsible for producing curly or wavy hair. Braids will also give you temporary curls.

Angles

Angles also play a part in curly or straight hair. For curly haired people, their follicles tunnel down into their scalp at an angle. In contrast, straight haired people have follicles that tunnel down vertically into their scalp.

Cells

Cells also play a big part in deciding your hair shape. For example, if you have straight hair, the cells in your follicles act in an organized fashion to produce straight hair growth. While in curly hair, all the cells in the follicles divide and split up unevenly to produce curly hair.

Genetics

Now you know why your hair is curly or straight hair, but have you ever wondered why you have the hair shape you have?

Well here's a brief explanation: genes or genetics. If you don't know what genetics or genes are then here's an explanation: Your genes are what you inherit from your parents or close relatives. If have curly hair, then one of your parents or close relatives probably has curly hair, too. But if have straight hair, then one of your parents or close relatives probably has straight hair, too.

How Many Follicles Are on the Head?

This might be surprising but it all depends on your hair color! The estimated range of follicles a person can have is 90,000-150,000. On average, the number of follicles a person can have is 100,000.

The chart below shows you how many follicles different people have with different hair colors.

Blonde 150,000

Brown 110,000

Black 100,000

Red 90,000

Conclusion

In conclusion, having straight or curly hair all depends on follicles, cells, and genetics. So if you have curly or wavy hair then you have oval follicles, cells that don't work together, and you probably have a parent or close relative that has curly hair or wavy hair. If you have straight hair, then you have circle follicles, cells that work together, and probably a parent or close relative that has straight hair.

This diagram shows your follicles and what they look like.

Curly hair is created by oval follicles and unorganized cells.

Straight hair is created by circle shaped follicles and organized cells.

Braids will give you temporary curls.

People with brown hair have about 110,000 follicles.

People with blonde hair have about 150,000 follicles.

Visit these sources to find more information:

Websites about Hair:

FUN FACTS:

Black and brown hair are the most common hair colors, and blonde and red are the most rare.
You lose 50-240 hairs a day.
In ancient Rome women used to dye their hair blonde with pigeon poop!!
On average, hair grows 6 inches each year.
90% of Japanese people wash their hair twice a day. 80% of North Americans wash theirs twice a day.
Hair is mostly made of keratin which is the same material found in our fingernails!!
Hair may grow quicker in warmer climates.
Your hair contains what your bloodstream has contained in the past. Scientists can also see what you ate and drank through one strand of hair!
A hair's lifespan is 3-5 years!
At different times, 90% of hair is growing, while the other 10% is resting.
Male hair may grow faster than female hair.

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