Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: paul.fr on 18/04/2007 05:28:34

Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 18/04/2007 05:28:34
When i had a head of hair it was and always had been, straight. So how come pubic hair is always curly?
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Karen W. on 18/04/2007 08:03:35
That is a darned good question. My hair is straight as a board, but my guess would be that it is so moist warm and scrunched up all the time.. LOL Just a guess! Higher body temperature... in that area perhaps!
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: lyner on 18/04/2007 09:58:43
I read that the curly / straight nature of hair was due to its radius and the shape of its cross section. If it is circular, then the hair is straight, if it is oval in cross section, it is weaker on one axis and bends easier, and forms curls. Thick hair might be straighter. (I believe Oriental hair has thicker fibres, which is why it tends to be less curly than whispy  north european hair).
The actual purpose of pubes - i.e. why we still have them - is also interesting. Is it for display, camouflage, protection, a wick, for scent?
As far as I can see it is 'neither use nor ornament' to quote a northern expression.
I don't have a problem with armpits, though; where did our society get that one from? A 'youth' thing, perhaps.
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: neilep on 18/04/2007 18:04:21
LOL..can you imagine if it was not curly and it continued to grow  ?

we'd have it all overflowing down our trousers and girlies would look like they have front-tails !!

Sophiecentaur is of course right about the whispy nature of our oriental cousins..though to be honest I have only seen the girlies !!

I shave mine off anyway !!
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: DrDick on 18/04/2007 19:35:57
An important factor here is the amount of sulfur in the hair.  The sulfur in the amino acids of the hair proteins tends to link with sulfur in other (nearby) amino acids.  This causes bending of the hair strands.  Consider your finger.  It can be straight, but if you touch the tip to your palm, your finger becomes bent.

Dick
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Bored chemist on 18/04/2007 19:42:38
Err, sulphur based bonds hold the hair in shape, but they don't make it curly. Permanent hair curling solutions work by breaking those disulphide bonds temporarily, curling the hair up, then re making the bonds. Anyway, if the body can get sulphur to the hair on my legs and to the hair on my head there's no reason it can't get sulphur to the hair anywhere else.
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Seany on 18/04/2007 21:57:11
Hey Paul, if you're that curious. Try straightening them with your wife's hair straightener, and tell us how it goes, OK? [;D]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 18/04/2007 21:59:57
Hey Paul, if you're that curious. Try straightening them with your wife's hair straightener, and tell us how it goes, OK? [;D]
wife! I may wright rubbish, but that does not mean im stupid. Lol
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Seany on 18/04/2007 22:04:38
Hmmm.. OK. So tell us how it goes eh Paul? [:P]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Seany on 18/04/2007 22:05:12
By the way.. You wrote "wright" wrong.. Hee hee.. Yep you sure do write rubbish!! Lol, just joking, Paul you are ever so wise. [;)]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: paul.fr on 18/04/2007 22:09:51
I speld it wrong on purpos. Damn low battery...back later
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Seany on 18/04/2007 22:11:13
Ohhhh! Now I feel stupid for not realising your purpose of it! [:P]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: lyner on 18/04/2007 23:06:36
I would not recommend using hot hair straighteners to straighten out short and curlies. It would need a very steady hand to avoid disaster!
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Seany on 18/04/2007 23:07:26
*Smacks Forehead*.. DUH! LOL [;D]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Guttedpiggy on 21/04/2007 10:53:01
maybe its just because our pubis hair is always rubbing against our underwear etc.. if you get your hair and rub a part of it, y(our head hair)
you will see that it will go curley after a while but our pub(e)s are always rubbing against other stuffs.
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Ethos on 21/05/2009 01:14:39
you will see that it will go curley after a while but our pub(e)s are always rubbing against other stuffs.
Absolutely, like someone else's pubic hair. I think I'll test this theory out tonight!!!!!!!!!
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Don_1 on 21/05/2009 07:47:32
You filthy swine......

Sorry, I mean, you filthy, lucky swine.
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Ethos on 22/05/2009 01:22:30
You filthy swine......

Sorry, I mean, you filthy, lucky swine.
Guilty as charged.......... [::)] [::)] [::)] [;D]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: JnA on 22/05/2009 16:37:04
Have a look at 'androgenic hair'.
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: lucyejo on 25/05/2009 14:53:30
i just assumed there was a link with Afro hair, [O8)] and thought they were both like that to help keep cool and stuff, am i wrong?
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Variola on 25/05/2009 21:56:32
Quote
So how come pubic hair is always curly?

Because if it was straight it would poke your eyes out... [;D]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 26/05/2009 06:12:20
They'll make holes in your underwear!
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Variola on 26/05/2009 08:03:47
They'll make holes in your underwear!

Ah perforated underwear!!! At least it wouldkeep it airy...
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 26/05/2009 20:13:06
Maybe if for some reason a male and female were rubbing their pubic regions together, the hair would make it easier to slide up and down?
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Ethos on 26/05/2009 22:24:02
Maybe if for some reason a male and female were rubbing their pubic regions together, the hair would make it easier to slide up and down?
Just as long as it didn't function like Velcro, this might cause problems with disengagement.  [xx(] [xx(] [???]
Title: Why is pubic hair curly?
Post by: Variola on 26/05/2009 22:35:59
Maybe if for some reason a male and female were rubbing their pubic regions together, the hair would make it easier to slide up and down?
Just as long as it didn't function like Velcro, this might cause problems with disengagement.  [xx(] [xx(] [???]

Like men with goatee beards.....