Why Do Some People Have Naturally Curly Hair?

Hair is like a rope, some ropes are straight, others twist and turn. The way your hair grows from the skin inside your head determines whether it stays straight or makes loops and bends. If your body gives your hair more of a special protein called keratin, it can curl up naturally.

Take the quiz →

Examples

A child with naturally curly hair looks like a wild tumbleweed, full of loops and bends.
Hair is like spaghetti, some people get straight noodles, others get twisted ones.
Grandma has naturally curly hair because her follicles are shaped like ovals.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Biology · hair biology· genetics· curl pattern· texture variation