There are two reasons why we believe African hair texture is genetic. Firstly, the texture is universal in Africans, while nearly absent from other ethnic groups. Secondly, it is consistently passed down to the children in each new generation.
Compared to silkier hair African-American hair contains more lipids, or fats, but the lipids are less bonded which is why the hair loves oils so much. Along with that, the follicle size is much thicker and it has a flattened elliptical cross section causing it to be curlier than other hair types.
Very tightly coiled hair is due to the nearly flat, ribbon-like structure of their follicles. This hair texture is very common in people of African ancestry. Not only is African hair often coiled, it also has a unique texture.
So, why is Afro-textured hair so fragile? With its tight curls and twists, is more prone to breakage for several reasons. Its shape increases tangling and makes combing harder. The shape also creates internal stresses when the hair is unbent, untwisted or stretched that lead to fracturing.
It's a myth that Black hair doesn't grow. All human hair grows at about half an inch a month, depending on your health and genetics. Having long hair is really more about how much hair you retain after breakage. Black hair, because it's curly, can be weaker than straighter hair.
Asian hair shows the fastest growth rate in comparison to the other two hair types. African hair has the lowest growth rate.
You should be aware that African hair and biracial hair tends to be drier than Caucasian hair. The structure of our hair makes it more difficult for the oils to work their way from the scalp to the ends of the hair.
Afro hair produces plenty of protective oils called sebum, but the oil struggles to spread evenly along the hair fibre due to the curly nature of afro hair. Without lubrication, the fibres become very dry which causes the hair to become frizzy and brittle.
A 2005 study in the journal International Journal of Dermatology also found a difference among races in the rate of hair growth. For example, Asian hair grows the fastest, while African hair grows the slowest.
Black hair grows just as long or fast as anyone else's. That's a fact! The reality is that black hair is different. It is often kinkier, curlier, and coarser, and because of this, we experience shrinkage, which has a huge part in the perception of non-growing hair.
Caucasians have the highest hair density among the ethnicities studied. Black people have the lowest. Asian people have hair density that falls somewhere in between.
Afro-textured hair, or kinky hair, is a human hair texture originating from sub-Saharan Africa. Each strand of this hair type grows in a tiny, angle-like helix shape. The overall effect is such that, contrasted with straight, wavy, or curly hair, afro-textured hair appears denser.
Many Asians have naturally straight hair, but there is a significant group of us who do have naturally curly or wavy hair! However, because it's the norm to see straight and sleek hair, curly haired boys and girls tend to think that their hair is some kind of unruly straight hair that isn't behaving.
Black hair is known to be the most common in the countries of Asia and Africa. Though this characteristic can also be seen in people of Southern Europe and France, it is less common. People of Celtic heritage in Ireland with such traits are sometimes known as the "Black Irish".
Very dark brown hair, easily mistaken for black hair, can be found occasionally in parts of East Asia.
Natural Hair
Even though natural black hair is dry, the build-up of debris can make it feel greasy if not washed regularly. You should ideally wash your natural black hair once every seven to fourteen days. Use a mild cleansing shampoo and a gentle conditioner.
The dark skin protects against the sun and that the hair is curly helps to protect their head. Whether curly hair is better or not, that is the way they evolved. You should ask why people have straight hair and why they are white when they need protection against the sun. It is because of a recessive albinism gene.
The Hairiest Ethnicities: What Ethnicity Has the Most Hair? According to Personal Health via the New York Times, Caucasians are the hairiest ethnic group, with Semitic and Mediterranean people being the hairiest out of all Caucasians.
It typically grows the longest, sometimes reaching 60 inches. Caucasian hair: Straight or curly, blond, red or brown, Caucasian hair varies wildly from head to head. Oval-shaped strands grow diagonally from the scalp and have the highest density of these three ethnicities.
Curly hair is not certain to a race or ethnicity, it appears all over the world in many forms. White, brown, black and everything inbetween! There is also a scale on which curly hair is classified (2a-4c).
African slaves no longer had access to their natural herbs, butters and oils to take care of their hair. They resorted to bacon grease, butter, and kerosene as their moisturizers, conditioners, and shampoo.
Most African American babies are born with thick, coarse, curly or wavy hair that requires special care. Because of its texture and curl pattern, the hair tends to be dry and prone to breakage – so treat it gently!
OOH, SO HEALTHY
"Because the hairs are thicker naturally, dark hair is better at camouflaging damage than light hair; it weighs down flyaways and split ends," notes Adrian Wallace, senior colorist at Rita Hazan Salon in NYC.
Wash your Black hair once every 7 to 14 days.
To keep your hair clean and protected, dermatologists recommend washing your hair once a week or once every 2 weeks. If you exercise a lot, feel free to wash your hair once every 5-7 days instead.