FORMATION OF THE CURLS
We'll enlighten you!
On your curls journey, you've probably heard and read a lot about curl types , porosity , protein and moisture. But how do the different hair structures develop? That is exactly what this blog post is about.
It's all a matter of genes.
Every characteristic in the human body is determined by genes. DNA sequences affect everything from body size to skin tone to eye color, hair color and of course hair texture .
🔎 Curly hair is an autosomal dominant trait . That is, if you have a curly hair gene from one of your parents, but a straight hair gene from the other, the "stronger" curly gene will prevail and express its trait. Since it is not always entirely clear, depending on the type and strength of the genes, there can be a mixture of both, such as B. wavy hair.
Hair is a long strand of horn made up of keratin. A single strand of hair consists of two basic components: the shaft , which appears above the scalp, and the hair follicle , which is formed in a deeper layer of the skin, is firmly attached to the subcutis and is not visible.
The structure of the hair follicles plays a crucial role in the development of textured hair. Simply put, a follicle is the part responsible for hair production. The properties of a hair follicle directly affect the shape and texture of the hair it produces.
CROSS SECTION OF THE HAIR SHAFT:
Whether hair is straight or curly depends on the cross-section of the hair shaft. If the cross-section is round or symmetrical, the hair shaft is usually very smooth and the hair is straight. With a round to oval cross-section, the hair shaft can form straight or slightly wavy hair. With a strongly elliptical or asymmetrical cross-section, they usually form very strong, small curls.
👉 In summary: The more oval the cross-section and the slope of the hair shaft from the scalp, the stronger and smaller the curls.
OILY SCALP AND DRY HAIR:
Each hair follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland that surrounds the hair. With every movement of the hair follicle, a tiny portion of sebum-like secretion (fat) is released. The clear, thin fat (sebum) produced in the sebaceous glands covers the surface of the skin and the surface of the hair shaft with a water-repellent protective film. This gives the hair suppleness, shine and prevents the hair from becoming brittle and breaking off.
🔎 The more oval the cross-section and the slope of the hair shaft, the lower the sebum production. Therefore, very curly hair is usually drier and has a lower greasy film on the scalp than straight hair. Excessive sebum production (seborrhea) results in a clearly visible greasy film: the volume at the roots falls and the hair or scalp becomes stringy and greasy more quickly.
Oily or dry hair is mainly related to the condition of the hair shaft and the associated sebum production. It doesn't mean how "dirty" the hair is. You can counteract this with the right care routine :
👉 If you have a quickly greasy scalp or a flat hairline, use a deep-cleansing shampoo so that the hairline gains more volume again. In addition, work with products that are not too heavy and do not put the products at the roots, but start with the tips/lengths.
👉 With very curly hair, this means that the hair does not need to be washed as often, as the hair does not get greasy as quickly and, conversely, can even be drier. Therefore, more moisture is used with Afro hair or thick, strong curls, e.g. B. with moisturizing shampoos or with a hair oil .
Take away:
Your DNA determines your curl pattern, which means your hair is just as individual and special as you are ❤️ Accept and love your curls the way they are, because that's how they are beautiful!