Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 08/07/2007 21:03:02

Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 08/07/2007 21:03:02
 [???]

What causes curly hair to be curly? Is it an excess, or lack of, a certain chemical?
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: kdlynn on 09/07/2007 02:12:56
it's the shape of the strand of hair. if i remember correctly, straight hair is perfectly round and curly hair is flat on one side which makes the hair curl up
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 09/07/2007 03:56:05
I thought hair was always round. Thank you.
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: kdlynn on 09/07/2007 04:05:11
no problem
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 09/07/2007 14:19:30
the protiens in hair contain sulfur atoms when two sulfur atoms come together they form adisulfide bond.  If two sulfur atoms are far apart in the same protein, and they come together to form that bond, the protein bends. The more disulfide bonds, the curlier the hair.

I have also heard that people with naturally straight hair, will tend to have curly hair after chimotherapy, and vice versa. although i dont know, have not heard why. perhaps Chris knows?
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: dentstudent on 09/07/2007 14:52:37
My hair is becoming increasingly curly as I get older. Does this mean that my hair is increasing in disulfide bonds?
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 09/07/2007 15:09:43
My hair is becoming increasingly curly as I get older. Does this mean that my hair is increasing in disulfide bonds?
Are you naturally curly, Stuart?
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 09/07/2007 19:07:15
Paul - that's very interesting. Thank you.
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: dentstudent on 09/07/2007 20:39:03
My hair is becoming increasingly curly as I get older. Does this mean that my hair is increasing in disulfide bonds?
Are you naturally curly, Stuart?

yes, but not on my head.....
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 09/07/2007 23:40:11
My hair is becoming increasingly curly as I get older. Does this mean that my hair is increasing in disulfide bonds?
Are you naturally curly, Stuart?

yes, but not on my head.....

Should that information be in the pubic public domain?
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: kdlynn on 10/07/2007 01:35:22
i was lied to!!
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 10/07/2007 07:12:34
So we are talking, short and curlies then, Stuart.

there are two answers. the first one i struggle to remember but is to do with the structure and shape of the hair (similar to Kadies answer). the second is, Androgens .androgens make hair follicles twist.
Title: What makes curly hair curly?
Post by: dentstudent on 10/07/2007 08:16:47
twisty follicles on my bollicles?

(Apologies if I'm not really supposed to say that!!!!!)