Short Wave Here's a better way to talk about hair
Oct 6, 2021
Tina Lasisi, a biological anthropologist with a focus on human scalp hair evolution, shares her groundbreaking insights. She reveals how scalp hair plays a vital role in thermoregulation and protection from UV radiation. Tina challenges traditional hair classifications, advocating for a scientific system based on texture rather than racial stereotypes. She emphasizes the importance of hair in shaping identity, particularly within Black communities, and inspires a cultural appreciation for diverse hair types.
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Hair is Fur
- Human hair is technically fur, simply keratinized fiber growing from scalp follicles.
- Calling it "hair" is more about human vanity than biology.
Curly Hair as Thermoregulation
- Tightly curled hair uniquely minimizes heat intake while maximizing heat loss.
- This combination protects the scalp and brain from solar radiation.
Limitations of Current Hair Typing
- Current hair typing systems often rely on racial categories or simplistic terms (straight, wavy, curly).
- These fail to capture the vast variation within and across groups, especially in individuals with mixed ancestry.