Human hair under 200-times magnification

Transverse section of hair follicle

Hair is an outgrowth of protein, found only on mammals. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands ^[1] It projects from the epidermis, though it grows from hair follicles deep in the dermis. Epidermis is the outermost layer of the Skin. It forms the waterproof protective wrap over the body's surface and is made up of stratified squamous Epithelium with A hair follicle is part of the Skin that grows Hair by packing old cells together The dermis is a layer of Skin beneath the epidermis that consists of Connective tissue, and cushions the body from stress and strain Although many other organisms, especially insects, show filamentous outgrowths, these are not considered "hair". Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described They are more like whiskers. So-called "hairs" (trichomes) are also found on plants. Trichomes, from the Greek meaning "growth of Hair " are fine outgrowths or appendages on Plants and certain Protists These are of diverse Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The projections on arthropods such as insects and spiders are actually insect bristles, composed of a polysaccharide called chitin. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Spiders are Predatory Invertebrate Animals that have two body segments, eight legs no chewing mouth parts and no wings A bristle is a stiff Hair or Feather. Also used are synthetic materials such as nylon or straw in items such as brooms and sweepers Polysaccharides are relatively complex Carbohydrates They are Polymers made up of many Monosaccharides joined together by Glycosidic bonds Chitin ( C 8 H 13 O 5 N)n (ˈkaɪtən is a long-chain Polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine The hair of non-human mammal species is commonly referred to as fur. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Fur is a body hair of any non-human Mammal, also known as the Pelage. There are varieties of cats, dogs, and mice bred to have little or no visible fur. WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one In some species, hair is absent at certain stages of life. The main component of hair fiber is keratin. Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in Reptiles Birds Keratins are proteins: long chains (polymers) of amino acids. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl A polymer is a large Molecule ( Macromolecule) composed of repeating Structural units typically connected by Covalent Chemical bonds In Chemistry, an amino acid is a Molecule containing both Amine and Carboxyl Functional groups In Biochemistry, this

Body hair

Human hair
By area Head hair Androgenic hair Facial hair Chest hair Underarm hair Abdominal hair Pubic hair Leg hair
By type Vellus hair Terminal hair Lanugo
Related topics Human hair color Hypertrichosis Trichophilia Hair removal Hair loss
v • d • e

Close-up of human hair

Historically, several ideas have been advanced to explain the small amount of body hair in humans, as compared to other species. Hair is a keratinised protein filament that grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the Dermis. Androgenic hair, colloquially Body hair, is the Terminal hair on the Human body developed during and after Puberty. Facial hair is a Secondary sex characteristic in human Males Many Men start developing facial hair in the later years of Puberty, approximately The term chest hair is generally used to describe Hair that grows on the Chest of human males in the region between the Neck and the abdomen Underarm Hair (also called axillary hair or armpit hair) is the composition of Hair in the Underarm area The term abdominal hair refers to the Hair that grows on the abdomen of humans and non-human Mammals, in the region between the Pubic area and Pubic hair is Hair in the frontal Genital area the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs these areas form the pubic region Leg hair is hair that grows on the legs of humans generally appearing at the onset of adulthood Vellus hair is short fine "peach fuzz" Body hair. It is a very soft and short hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes such as the face and Terminal hair is developed Hair, which is generally longer coarser thicker and darker than the shorter and finer Vellus hair. Lanugo is fine downy Hair; it is a type of Pelage. In humans Fetal development Hair color is the pigmentation of hair follicles due to the two types of melanin Eumelanin and Phaeomelanin. Hypertrichosis, congenital generalized Hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome is a medical term referring to a condition of excessive body Hair. Trichophilia or hair fetishism is a Paraphilia in which one becomes sexually aroused by or is extremely fond of human Hair removal describes any method of removing Hair, especially from the human body Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows especially on the head Androgenic hair, colloquially Body hair, is the Terminal hair on the Human body developed during and after Puberty. Many were faced with the same problem that there is no fossil record of human hair to back up the conjectures nor to determine exactly when this feature evolved. However, recent research on the evolution of lice suggests that human ancestors lost their body hair approximately 3. 3 million years ago. ^[2]

Savanna theory suggests that nature selected humans for shorter and thinner body hair as part of a set of adaptations to the warm plains of the savanna, including bipedal locomotion and an upright posture. Bipedalism is a form of Terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by means of its two rear limbs There are several problems (including balding) with this theory, not least of which is that cursorial hunting is used by other animals that do not show any thinning of hair. Cursorial hunting is a hunting strategy practised by animals that are much slower over short distances than their quarry but have superior endurance over long distances

Another theory for the thin body hair on humans proposes that Fisherian runaway sexual selection played a role here (as well as in the selection of long head hair). Androgenic hair, colloquially Body hair, is the Terminal hair on the Human body developed during and after Puberty. Fisherian runaway is a model of Sexual selection, first proposed by R Sexual selection is the Theory proposed by Charles Darwin that states that certain evolutionary traits can be explained by Intraspecific competition Possibly this occurred in conjunction with neoteny, with the more juvenile appearing females being selected by males as more desirable (see types of hair and vellus hair). Neoteny (niːˈɒtɨniː also called juvenilization, is the retention by adults in a species of traits previously seen only in juveniles ( pedomorphosis/paedomorphosis Vellus hair is short fine "peach fuzz" Body hair. It is a very soft and short hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes such as the face and

Another theory is the possible co-evolution of man with a very early use of clothing, especially in colder northern climates, after the Hominina came out of Africa. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather The more Anthropomorphic Primates of the Hominini tribe are placed in the Hominina subtribe

The aquatic ape hypothesis posits that sparsity of hair is an adaptation to an aquatic environment, but it has little support amongst scientists and very few aquatic mammals are, in fact, hairless. The aquatic ape hypothesis (AAH, sometimes referred to as the aquatic ape theory, asserts that wading swimming and diving for food exerted a strong Evolutionary effect

In reality, there may be little to explain. Humans, like all primates, are part of a trend toward sparser hair in larger animals; the density of human hair follicles on the skin is actually about what one would expect for an animal of equivalent size^[3]. The outstanding question is why so much of human hair is short, underpigmented vellus hair, rather than terminal hair. Vellus hair is short fine "peach fuzz" Body hair. It is a very soft and short hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes such as the face and Terminal hair is developed Hair, which is generally longer coarser thicker and darker than the shorter and finer Vellus hair.

Characteristics

Traditional Hopi hair style, photo by Edward S. Curtis, 1922

Types of hair

Human beings have three different types of hair:

• Lanugo, the fine hair that covers nearly the entire body of fetuses. The Hopi are Native American people who primarily live on the 12635 km² (2531 Edward Sheriff Curtis ( February 16, 1868 &ndash October 19, 1952) was a photographer of the American West and of Native Lanugo is fine downy Hair; it is a type of Pelage. In humans Fetal development A fetus (or foetus or fœtus) is a developing Mammal or other Viviparous Vertebrate, after the Embryonic stage and
• Vellus hair, the short, fine, "peach fuzz" body hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes. Vellus hair is short fine "peach fuzz" Body hair. It is a very soft and short hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes such as the face and
• Terminal hair, the fully developed hair, which is generally longer, coarser, thicker, and darker than vellus hair. Terminal hair is developed Hair, which is generally longer coarser thicker and darker than the shorter and finer Vellus hair.

Texture

Hair texture is described as fine, medium, coarse or wiry, depending on the hair diameter. In Materials science, texture is the distribution of crystallographic orientations of a sample Within the four texture ranges hair can also be thin, medium or thick density and it can be straight, curly, 'kinky' (tightly coiled), or wavy. Hair conditioner also affects hair texture. Hair conditioner is a Hair care product that alters the Texture and appearance of human Hair. Hair can be healthy, normal, oily, dry, damaged or a combination. Hair texture can also be affected by hair styling equipment such as straighteners, crimpers, or curlers. A hair iron or hair tong is a tool used to change the structure of the Hair with the help of heat A hair iron or hair tong is a tool used to change the structure of the Hair with the help of heat Also, a hairdresser can change hair texture with chemicals.

Hair is genetically programmed to be straight, curly, 'kinky' or wavy, and it can change over time.

For many years, it was believed that the shape of a person’s hair was determined by the individual hair shafts, and that curly and 'kinky' hair to their shape because the cross-section of the hair shaft was flatter and had more intertwined layers than straight hair, which was round. But scientists have determined that whether your hair is curly, 'kinky', or straight is determined by the shape of the follicle itself and the direction in which each strand grows out of its follicle. Curly and/or 'kinky' hair is shaped like an elongated oval and grows at a sharp angle to the scalp. This growth pattern, in turn, determines the cross-section of the shafts.

Curly and/or 'kinky' hair has a different biological structure from straight hair. It tends to be much drier than straight hair because the oils secreted into the hair shaft by the sebaceous glands can more easily travel down the shaft of straight hair. The sebaceous glands are Glands found in the Skin of Mammals Locations and morphology A branched type of Acinar gland, these People with very curly hair may find that this hair type can be dry and often frizzy.

Hair, whether it is curly or straight, is affected by the amount of humidity in the air. It serves as a restoring force for the hair, forcing water back into the hair fiber and forcing hair shaft to return to its original structure. This may be more noticeable in somebody with curly hair because it tends to get frizzy when the humidity rises.

Context in which human head (and auxilliary) hair texture variation may have arisen

Evolutionary biologists suggest that the genus Homo arose in East Africa approximately 2. Homo is the Genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. 5 million years ago (Jablonski, 2006). During this time new hunting techniques were innovated (Jablonski, 2006). The higher protein diet led to the evolution of larger body and brain sizes (Jablonski, 2006). Jablonski (2006) postulates that increasing body size, in conjunction with intensified hunting during the day at the equator, gave rise to a greater need to rapidly expel heat. As a result, humans developed the ability to sweat and thus lost body hair to facilitate this process (Jablonski, 2006). Notably, Pagel et al (2003) argue against this hypothesis, stating that hominids without fur would not have been able to warm themselves as efficiently at night, nor protect themselves well enough from the sun during the day. However, it is possible that increased intelligence, combined with sophisticated hunting techniques, may have enabled humans to warm themselves at night using animal skins. Furthermore, assuming that hair loss evolved gradually, dark skin color could have developed to protect the skin during the day (Rogers et al 2004). Human skin color can range from almost black (due to very high concentrations of the dark brown pigment melanin to nearly colorless (appearing reddish white due to the Blood Hence the former hypothesis may still be viable.

The evolution of 'Afro' hair texture

Jablonski (2006) agrees that it was evolutionarily advantageous for pre-humans (Homo erectus) to retain the hair on their heads in order to protect the skin there as they walked upright in the intense African (equatorial) UV light (Jablonski, 2006). Homo erectus ( Latin: "upright man" is an extinct species of the genus Homo, believed to have been the first hominin Ultraviolet ( UV) light is Electromagnetic radiation with a Wavelength shorter than that of Visible light, but longer than X-rays Auxiliary hair (in the groin and underarms) was likely retained as a sign of sexual maturity. During the process of going from fur to naked skin, hair texture putatively changed gradually from straight (the condition of most mammals, including humanity's closest cousins--chimpanzees), to Afro-like or 'kinky' (i. e. tightly coiled). For, Iyengar (1998) has provided evidence that the roots of straight human hair may act as fiber optic tubes that allow UV light to pass into the skin. However, it is notable that 'kinks' in fiber optic tubes are known to prevent UV light from passing through. In this sense, during the period in which humans were gradually losing their straight body hair and thereby exposing the probably pale skin underneath their fur to the sun, straight hair would have been an evolutionary liability. Hence, tightly coiled or 'kinky' natural afro-hair may have evolved to prevent the entry of UV light into the body during the gradual transition period towards the evolution of dark skin (and from hairiness to virtual nudity).

The re-evolution of straight hair texture among modern humans

Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) arose in East African approximately 200,000 years ago (Tishkoff, 1996). Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Anatomically modern behavior in terms of innovation in hunting instruments and artistic expression arose within the past 65,000-70,000 years in Africa. It was during this time that modern humans began to expand their range to regions outside of (and within) Africa (Tishkoff, 1996). Among those in the group who left the African continent, some migrated to northern regions such as central and northeast Asia. These groups initially faced a special dilemma. Their dark African skin and 'kinky' African hair, both of which had evolved to minimize entry of UV light into the body, were ill-suited to the weak sunlight of these regions. This is because, some time during the period in which humanity was in Africa, their skin had developed the ability to manufacture vitamin D (which was essential for bone development) upon exposure to UV light (Jablonski, 2006). However the UV light of northern regions was too weak to penetrate the highly pigmented skin of the initial migrants in order to provide enough vitamin D for healthy bone development. Malformed bones in the pelvic area were especially deadly for women in that they interfered with the successful delivery of children. Hence, lighter skin gradually evolved to allow UV light into the skin (Jablonski, 2006). It is feasible that, during the transition period from dark to light skin, the need for vitamin D grew so intense that the hair of these northerners also gradually straightened so that UV light could pass into the body. This, again, is in accord with Iyengar's (1998) findings that UV light can pass through straight human hair roots in a manner similar to the way that light passes through fiber optic tubes. Furthermore, again, the need for the change from 'kinky' to straight hair is consistent with the fact that UV light cannot pass through 'kinked' fiber optic tubes.

Curly Hair

Given the evidence concerning the evolution of ‘kinky’ and straight hair textures, it is reasonable to conclude that curly hair arose in two ways. First, some curly textures may have arisen as a result of the migration of Africans to northern regions in the relatively recent past. The subsequent admixture with the straight haired Eurasians who had, as mentioned, migrated places in north (and west) central Europe and east Asia earlier, would have resulted in curly hair. Second, it is possible that the roots of certain types of curly hair are straight enough to still allow UV light to pass into the skin. Thus some forms of curly hair may simply be natural variants.

Aging

Older people tend to develop grey hair because their hair follicles produce less pigment and the hair becomes colorless. For the drug referred to as "pigment" see Black tar heroin. Grey hair is considered to be a characteristic of normal aging. The age at which this occurs varies from person to person, but in general nearly everyone 75 years or older has grey hair, and in general men tend to become grey at younger ages than women.

It should be noted however, that grey hair in itself is not actually grey; the grey head of hair is a result of a combination of the dark and white/colourless hair forming an overall 'grey' appearance to the observer. As such, people starting out with very pale blond hair usually develop white hair instead of grey hair when aging. Blond (also spelled blonde, see below) or fair-haired is a Hair color characterized by low levels of the dark Pigment eumelanin Red hair usually doesn't turn grey with age; rather it becomes a sandy colour and afterward turns white. Some degree of scalp hair loss or thinning generally accompanies ageing in both males and females, and it's estimated

that half of all men are affected by male pattern baldness by the time they are 50^[4]. The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the Face anteriorly and the Neck to the sides and posteriorly Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows especially on the head Androgenic Alopecia (also known as androgenetic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica) is a common form of hair loss in both male and female The tendency toward baldness is a trait shared by a number of other primate species, and is thought to have evolutionary roots. Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows especially on the head A primate is a member of the biological order Primates ( Latin: "prime first rank" the group that contains Lemurs the Aye-aye In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank.

It is commonly claimed that hair and nails will continue growing for several days after death. This is a myth; the appearance of growth is actually caused by the retraction of skin as the surrounding tissue dehydrates, making nails and hair more prominent. Dehydration ( hypohydration) is the removal of Water ( hydro in ancient Greek) from an object

Pathological impacts on hair

Drugs used in cancer chemotherapy frequently cause a temporary loss of hair, noticeable on the head and eyebrows, because they kill all rapidly dividing cells, not just the cancerous ones. A drug, broadly speaking is any chemical substance that when absorbed into the body Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Chemotherapy, in its most general sense refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells specifically those of micro-organisms or Cancer. In Anatomy, the head of an Animal is the Rostral part (from Anatomical position that usually comprises the Brain, Eyes The eyebrow is an area of thick delicate hairs above the Eye that follows the shape of the brow ridges. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Other diseases and traumas can cause temporary or permanent loss of hair, either generally or in patches. A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Treatment of physical trauma is described here and in First aid. Patients with Hyperthyriodism or Hypothyriodism can experience hair loss until their hormone levels are regulated.

The hair shafts may also store certain poisons for years, even decades, after death. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by In the case of Col. Lafayette Baker, who died July 3, 1868, use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer showed the man was killed by white arsenic. Lafayette C Baker ( October 13, 1826 &ndash July 3, 1868) was a United States investigator and spy serving particularly in the Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap History See also Atomic theory, Atomism The concept that matter is composed of discrete units and cannot be divided into arbitrarily tiny In Physics, absorption of electromagnetic radiation is the process by which the Energy of a Photon is taken up by matter typically the electrons of an In Physics, spectrophotometry is the quantitative study of electromagnetic spectra. Arsenic (ˈɑrsənɪk is a Chemical element that has the symbol As and Atomic number of 33 The prime suspect was Wally Pollack, Baker's brother-in-law. According to Dr. Ray A. Neff, Pollack had laced Baker's beer with it over a period of months, and a century or so later minute traces of arsenic showed up in the dead man's hair. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Mrs. Baker's diary seems to confirm that it was indeed arsenic, as she writes of how she found some vials of it inside her brother's suitcoat one day. For other uses of the term 'diary' see Diary (disambiguation.

Width

According to The Physics Factbook, the diameter of human hair ranges from 17 to 181 µm. Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Geometry, a diameter of a Circle is any straight Line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose Endpoints are on the A micrometre ( American spelling: micrometer; symbol µm) is one millionth of a Metre, or equivalently one thousandth of a Millimetre ^[5]

Hair care and hair loss

Main articles: Hair care, Baldness, and Baldness treatments

Cultural attitudes

Head hair

People from different cultures have invented various ways to arrange, or "style" their hair. Hair care is an overall term for parts of Hygiene and Cosmetology involving the Hair on the human head Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows especially on the head More than half of men are affected by Male pattern baldness by age 50 and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry

The remarkable head hair of humans has gained an important significance in nearly all present societies as well as any given historical period throughout the world. The haircut has always played a significant cultural and social role. Haircut redirects here For the financial term see Haircut (finance. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Hair is a keratinised protein filament that grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the Dermis.

In ancient Egypt head hair was often shaved, especially amongst children, as long hair was uncomfortable in the heat. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Children were often left with a long lock of hair growing from one part of their heads, the practice being so common that it became the standard in Egyptian art for artists to depict children as always wearing this "sidelock". Many adult men and women kept their heads permanently shaved for comfort in the heat and to keep the head free of lice, while wearing a wig in public. Lice (singular louse) ( order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3000 Species of wingless Insects three of which are classified A wig is a head of Hair made from horse-hair human hair wool feathers buffalo hair or synthetic worn on the head for fashion or various other aesthetic and stylistic

In ancient Greece, ancient India and ancient Rome men and women already differed from each other through their haircuts. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The head hair of women was long and pulled back into a chignon. A chignon, pronounced "sheen-yon” is a popular type of bun style Many dyed their hair red with henna and sprinkled it with gold powder, often adorning it with fresh flowers. Henna or Hina ( Lawsonia inermis, syn L alba) is a Flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Men’s hair was short and even occasionally shaved. In Rome hairdressing became ever more popular and the upper classes were attended to by slaves or visited public barber shops. Haircut redirects here For the financial term see Haircut (finance. Is a concept in Sociology that refers to the group of people at the top of a Social hierarchy. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another A barber (from the Latin barba, " Beard " is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair give shaves, and trim

Maasai warriors with their traditional hair styling

The traditional hair styling in some parts of Africa also gives interesting examples of how people dealt with their head hair. The Maasai warriors tied the front hair into sections of tiny braids while the back hair was allowed to grow to waist length. The Maasai are an indigenous African Ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. According to the Random House Dictionary, the term warrior has two meanings A braid (also called plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers wire or human hair Women and non-warriors, however, shaved their heads. Many tribes dyed the hair with red earth and grease; some stiffened it with animal dung. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water Cow dung is the Waste of bovine animal species These species include domestic Cattle ("cows" Bison ("buffalo"

Contemporary social and cultural conditions have constantly influenced popular hair styles. From the 17th century into the early 19th century it was the norm in Western culture for men to have long hair often tied back into a ponytail. Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin "Ponytails" redirects here For the girl group see The Poni-Tails. Famous long-haired men include René Descartes, Giacomo Casanova, Oliver Cromwell and George Washington. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the During his younger years Napoleon Bonaparte had a long and flamboyant head of hair. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Before World War I men generally had longer hair and beards. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The trench warfare between 1914 and 1918 exposed men to lice and flea infestations, which prompted the order to cut hair short, establishing a norm that has persisted. Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static Lice (singular louse) ( order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3000 Species of wingless Insects three of which are classified Flea is the Common name for any of the small wingless Insects of the order Siphonaptera (some authorities use the name Aphaniptera

It has also been advanced that short hair on men has been enforced as a means of control, as shown in the military and police and other forces that require obedience and discipline. Additionally, slaves and defeated armies were often required to shave their heads, in both pre-medieval Europe and China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Long hair was almost universal among women in Western culture until World War I. Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Many women in conservative Pentecostal groups abstain from trimming their hair after conversion (and some have never had their hair trimmed or cut at all since birth). Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism The social revolution of the 1960s led to a renaissance of unchecked hair growth. Hair length is measured from the front scalp line on the forehead up over the top of the head and down the back to the floor. The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the Face anteriorly and the Neck to the sides and posteriorly In Human anatomy, the forehead or brow is the bony part of the head above the Eyes Cultural Aspects A popular Stereotype Standard milestones in this process of hair growing are waist length, hip length, classic length (midpoint on the body, where the buttocks meet the thighs), thigh length, knee length, ankle length and even beyond. The Waist is the part of the abdomen between the Rib cage and hips. The buttocks (singular buttock) are rounded portions of the anatomy located on the posterior of the Pelvic region of the Apes including Humans In humans the thigh is the area between the Pelvis and the Knee. In humans the thigh is the area between the Pelvis and the Knee. It takes about seven years, including occasional trims, to grow one's hair to waist length. Terminal length varies from person to person according to genetics and overall health. Genetics (from Ancient Greek grc-Latn genetikos, “genitive” and that from grc-Latn genesis, “origin” a discipline of Biology, is

A thriving salon culture in Detroit gave rise to the Detroit Hair Wars in 1991. Hair Wars is an annual touring event which has become one of the biggest African-American hair shows in the United States Using the medium of human and synthetic hair, elaborate fantastical head pieces, such as spider webs, flowers and flying "hair-y copters", have been made by participants. [1]

Body hair

Mark Twain, Shirtless. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist A human male with body hair.

The attitudes towards hair on the human body also vary between different cultures and times. In some cultures profuse chest hair on men is a symbol of virility and masculinity; other societies display a hairless body as a sign of youthfulness. The term chest hair is generally used to describe Hair that grows on the Chest of human males in the region between the Neck and the abdomen Virility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively

In ancient Egypt, people regarded a completely smooth, hairless body as the standard of beauty. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** An upper class Egyptian woman took great pains to ensure that she did not have a single hair on her body, except for the top of her head (and even this was often replaced with a wig^[6]). The ancient Greeks later adopted this smooth ideal, considering a hairless body to be representative of youth and beauty. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Youth is the period from infancy or childhood to maturity Usage Around the world the terms "youth" " Adolescent " "teenager" and This is reflected in Greek female sculptures which do not display any pubic hair. Pubic hair is Hair in the frontal Genital area the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs these areas form the pubic region Islam stipulates many tenets with respect to hair, such as the covering of hair by women and the removal of armpit and pubic hair (see five physical characteristics traits of fitrah). For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. In Islamic philosophy Fitrah (فطرة is the inherent disposition towards virtue in humanity and what endows people with the ability to differentiate between right and wrong

Hair as business factor

Hair care for humans is a major world industry with specialized tools, chemicals and techniques. Hair care is an overall term for parts of Hygiene and Cosmetology involving the Hair on the human head The business of various products connected with human hair has become an important industrial and financial factor in Western societies. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings

Social role of hair

Hair has great social significance for human beings. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus It can grow on most areas of the human body, except on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet (among other areas), but hair is most noticeable in most people in a small number of areas, which are also the ones that are most commonly trimmed, plucked, or shaved. The human body is the entire physical and mental structure of a Human Organism. The hands ( med / lat: manus pl manūs are the two intricate prehensile multi- Fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a The foot is an Anatomical structure found in many Animals It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows Locomotion. These include the face, nose, ears, head, eyebrows, eyelashes, legs and armpits, as well as the pubic region. The term face refers to the central sense organ complex for those animals that have one normally on the ventral surface of the head and can depending on the definition Anatomically a nose is a protuberance in Vertebrates that houses the Nostrils or nares which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction with the The ear is the sense organ that detects Sounds The Vertebrate ear shows a common biology from Fish to Humans with variations In Anatomy, the head of an Animal is the Rostral part (from Anatomical position that usually comprises the Brain, Eyes The eyebrow is an area of thick delicate hairs above the Eye that follows the shape of the brow ridges. An eyelash or simply lash is one of the hairs that grow at the edge of the Eyelid. A leg is a limb on an Animal 's Body that supports the rest of the animal above the ground between the Ankle and the Hip and is used for The axilla (or armpit, underarm, or oxter) is the area on the human body directly under the joint where the Arm connects to the Shoulder The hypogastrium (or hypogastric region, or pubic region) is an area of the Human abdomen residing below the Umbilicus. The highly visible differences between male and female body and facial hair are a notable secondary sex characteristic. Secondary sex characteristics are traits that distinguish the two Sexes of a species but that are not directly part of the Reproductive system.

Portrait of a Woman, Alessandro Allori (1535 - 1607; Uffizi Gallery): a plucked hairline gives a fashionably "noble brow"

Hair as indicator

• Healthy hair indicates health and youth (important in evolutionary biology)
• Hair colour and texture can be a sign of ethnic ancestry
• Facial hair is a sign of puberty in men
• White hair is a sign of age, which can be concealed with hair dye
• Male pattern baldness is sign of age, which can be concealed with a toupee, hats or religious/cultural adornments. The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi one of the oldest and most famous Art Museums in the world is housed in the Palazzo degli Uffizi, a Evolutionary biology is a sub-field of Biology concerned with the origin of Species from a Common descent, and Descent of species Facial hair is a Secondary sex characteristic in human Males Many Men start developing facial hair in the later years of Puberty, approximately Hair coloring is a process used to color human Hair. It is used for a variety of purposes most commonly to return gray hair to its previous color to change hair color Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows especially on the head A toupée is a hairpiece or partial wig of natural or synthetic hair worn to cover partial Baldness or for theatrical purposes In modern times, it can be reversed in some men with minoxidil (marketed as Rogaine or Regaine) or finasteride (marketed as Propecia); see Baldness treatments
• Hairstyle can be an indicator of group membership:
  • Metalhead long-hair for headbanging, also symbolic of a metalhead belonging to the metal world. Minoxidil (trade names Rogaine and Regaine) is a Vasodilator Medication known for its ability to slow or stop hair loss and promote Minoxidil (trade names Rogaine and Regaine) is a Vasodilator Medication known for its ability to slow or stop hair loss and promote Finasteride (marketed as Proscar, Propecia, Fincar, Finpecia, Finax, Finast, Finara, Finalo, More than half of men are affected by Male pattern baldness by age 50 and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry Haircut redirects here For the financial term see Haircut (finance. Metalhead (or headbanger) is a popular term for a devoted fan of Heavy metal music and is often used interchangeably with the term "hesher"
  • Beatle "pudding-bowl" haircuts
  • Punk mohawk haircuts
  • Skinhead haircut
  • Mullet hairstyle
  • Deathhawk A larger, fuller version of a mohawk - popular in the gothic sub-culture
  • Undercut where the sides and back of the head are shaved short or bald, and the top hair is allowed to grow long. The Mohawk (or mohican in British English) is a Hairstyle which consists of shaving both sides of the head leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair A skinhead is a member of a Subculture that originated among Working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and then spread to other parts of A mullet is a Hairstyle that is short in the front top and sides but long in the back The Mohawk (or mohican in British English) is a Hairstyle which consists of shaving both sides of the head leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair The goth subculture is a contemporary Subculture found in many countries The undercut is a Haircut much like a Bowl cut except the ridge of the Bowl is not where the cutting ends Common with metalheads and in the Cybergoth subculture, especially with women, although it is accepted as a unisex hair style. Cyber, is the name given to a contemporary Subculture having roots in multiple music and fashion scenes including the European and American Rave / clubbing
  • "Emo" hair where the bangs cover one eye
  • Fascinator where the hair is short at the back and long at the front and the front forms itself into a point. Emo (ˈiːmoʊ is a genre of music that originated from Hardcore punk early on and adopted Pop-punk influences later on in the 2000s when A fascinator is a Headpiece worn on the hair and worn almost exclusively by women It is similar to a mullet in reverse (also known as a frullet).
• Some groups, for example Sikhs and male orthodox Jews, never cut or shave some or all of their hair. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized
• Some groups, such as women in the Muslim and orthodox Jewish communities, cover their hair as part of religious observance. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized
• It is found that hair whorl is associated with brain development. A Hair whorl is a patch of Hair Growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the hair The study of neural development draws on both Neuroscience and Developmental biology to describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which complex Nervous

Growing and removing

• Hair length for men: Cavaliers and Roundheads, long hair in the 1960s, skinheads, mullets and other hairstyles, the uncut hair of Sikhs. Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War ( 1642 &ndash 1651 " Roundheads " was the Nickname given to the Puritan supporters of Parliament during the English Civil War. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 A skinhead is a member of a Subculture that originated among Working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and then spread to other parts of A mullet is a Hairstyle that is short in the front top and sides but long in the back Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism.
• Women with short hair are often looked at as lesbians.
  • The bobbed hair of flappers
• Hairy arms and legs, regional variations in hirsutism

Hair, power, punishment, and status

French civilians shave the head of a young woman as punishment for wartime collaboration, August 29, 1944

• Samson and Delilah
• Shaved heads in concentration camps
• Head-shaving as punishment - especially for women with long hair. The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young Women who wore short skirts bobbed their hair listened to the new Jazz music Hirsutism (from Latin hirsutus = shaggy hairy is defined as excessive and increased Hair growth in women in locations where the occurrence of Terminal This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Samson, Shimshon ( Hebrew: שמשון, Standard Šimšon Tiberian Šimšôn; meaning Delilah ( דלילה - D+*uL+iJ+L+oH+, Standard Hebrew meaning " who weakened or uprooted or impoverished" from the root dal meaning Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial Punishment is the practice of imposing something unpleasant or aversive on a person or animal usually in response to disobedient or morally wrong behavior
• Military haircuts, monastic tonsures
• Kovstro and his Seven Hounds
• Extremely long hair of some Indian holy men
• Regular hairdressing as sign of wealth
• The dreadlocks of the Rastafari movement
• Own removal of hair in order to liberate oneself from their past, usually after a trying time in one's life. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches mystics Buddhist novices and Monks and some Hindu temples of cutting the Hair from the Dreadlocks, also called locks or dreads, are interlocked coils of Hair which form by themselves in all hair types if the hair is allowed to grow naturally The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament
• Tightly curled Afros are sometimes worn among Blacks as a symbol of racial pride
• Flappers of the 1920s cut their traditional long hair into short Bob cuts to show their independence and sexual freedom. An afro, sometimes called a "natural" or shortened to "fro", is a Hairstyle in which the Hair extends out from the Head The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young Women who wore short skirts bobbed their hair listened to the new Jazz music The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada A " bob cut " is a short Haircut in which a weighted area is left to fall between the ears and chin
• Hippies of the 1960s grew their hair long in order to illustrate their distance from mainstream society. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The film Easy Rider (1969) includes the description of one Hippie forcibly having his head shaved with a rusty razor to indicate the intolerance of some conservative groups towards the Hippie movement. Easy Rider, a 1969 American Road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world

Concealing and revealing

• Keeping women's hair hidden: headscarves, the hijab in Islam, head-shaving and wigs in Orthodox Judaism etc. For other uses see Headgear. Headscarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head Islam and clothing Hijab or ħijāb ( ar حجاب, pronounced) is the Arabic term for "cover" (noun based on the root حجب meaning "to For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Head shaving is the practice of Shaving the Hair from a person 's head, either completely or nearly Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized
• Keeping men's hair hidden: the turban in Sikhism
• Displaying women's hair: hair fashions in Western society
• Displaying men's hair: facial hair in Islam, ringlets in Hassidic Judaism
• Hair ornaments
• Keeping pubic hair hidden or shaven

See also

• Hypotrichosis, the state of having a less than normal amount of hair on the head or body

References

* Iyengar, B. (1998). The hair follicle is a specialized UV receptor in human skin? Bio Signals Recep, 7(3), 188-194.

* Jablonski, N. G. (2006). Skin: a natural history. Berkley, CA: University of Califiornia Press.

* Pagel, M. & Bodmer, W. (2003). A naked ape would have fewer parasites. Procedings of the Royal Society of London. (http://www.anthro.utah.edu/~rogers/pubs/Pagel-BL-270-S117.pdf)

* Rogers, Alan R. ; Iltis, David & Wooding, Stephen (2004), “Genetic variation at the MC1R locus and the time since loss of human body hair”, Current Anthropology 45 (1): 105-108.

* Tishkoff, S. A. (1996). Global patterns of linkage disequilibrium at the CD4 locus and modern human origins. Science. 271(5254), 1380-1387.

External links

• Discussion about shaving and cultures
• Answers to several questions related to hair from curious kids
• How to measure the diameter of your own hair using a laser pointer
• Instant insight outlining the chemistry of hair from the Royal Society of Chemistry
• About Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus,the recent film which describes only a part of the life and work of the photographer, particularly her relationship to a man who was born with a peculiarly hair-covered skin