[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

 []

What causes curly hair to be curly? Is it an excess, or lack of, a certain chemical?

[kdlynn]

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

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

I thought hair was always round. Thank you.

[kdlynn]

no problem

[paul.fr]

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?

[dentstudent]

My hair is becoming increasingly curly as I get older. Does this mean that my hair is increasing in disulfide bonds?

[paul.fr]

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?

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

Paul - that's very interesting. Thank you.

[dentstudent]

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.....

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

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?

[kdlynn]

i was lied to!!

[paul.fr]

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.

[dentstudent]

twisty follicles on my bollicles?

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