Traditionally, hair shaft differences have been described in terms of category labels like Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid which was very much dependent on the region they belong to. Sometimes hair types are also defined as Oriental, Indo-American and African hair. |
| |
|
| Indo-European (Caucasian) Hair |
|
|
The traditional use of term Caucasian was based on old assumption about origins and where the most perfect examples could be found.. In reality these people were already widespread in Europe & Western Asia. Their hair are straight, European hair contain reddish brown phaeomelanin whereas Asian hair containg dark brown colored pigment |
|
pigment called eumelanin. Straight is characterized by a certain diameter range, 50-90 microns, has untwisted structure and shows tremendous variability. If one takes the cross-section, it is found as flattened or oval.
|
|
|
|
 |
Oriental Hair |
|
Characteristically thick straight hair, up to 120 microns in diameter, if one takes the cross-section, it is found as round in shape. These hair are a typical characteristic of Far Eastern countries like Japan, China, Korea.
|
|
|
|
| African (Sub-Saharan) Hair |
|
Hair are considerably flattened, often grooved and frequently vary in diameter along a single strand. They tend to be highly twisted. The hair is sharply kinked at the edges and is vulnerable to damage at such points. This kind of hair tends to be more easily harmed by cosmetic mal-treatment then is cylindrical hair and for grooming it requires more
|
|
force especially when it is dry. It is highly pigmented with eumelanin pigment which gives it a dark color.
|
|
Colloquially hair is classified as straight, wavy or curly depending on protein composition and other chemical bonds present. Curly hair are often springy unlike straight hair. The surface of curly hair is uneven, giving them more volume but less gloss as they cannot reflect the light as well as smooth hair.
Alternatively hair is also classifies as normal, dry & oily depending on the level of sebum present. The essential reason for oil build up in hair is the disproportionately high production of sebum from the glands. Perspiration from the head can also create greasy-looking strands, particularly in fine hair.
|
