Tag: Hair follicle

Keratin is a tough, fibrous structural protein that forms the primary building block for skin, hair, and nails, comprising approximately 95% of a hair strand. This critical protein, along with other specialized proteins, is responsible for the hardness, strength, and protective qualities of our integumentary system.

The human body is composed of about 60% water, and every cell, including those in our hair follicles, depends on it to function optimally. This critical fact sets the stage for a deeper look into a common question: does drinking water improve hair health?

Your hair's texture is largely determined by genetics, which influence the shape of your hair follicles. However, the crucial question remains: Does diet affect hair curl pattern and its overall health? The nutrients you consume play a significant role in maintaining the integrity and appearance of your natural curl, even if they don't fundamentally change its shape.

Hair is composed of a protein called keratin, and as it emerges from the scalp, it is considered biologically 'dead'. Therefore, the visible hair shaft itself does not absorb nutrients, but its health is entirely dependent on the internal supply delivered to the follicle.

According to a study published in the journal *Nature*, obesity and a high-fat diet can deplete hair follicle stem cells, blocking regeneration. This reveals that, while not a direct trigger, an unhealthy diet that includes excessive greasy food can absolutely influence hair health and contribute to hair loss.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the shape of your hair follicle—determined by genetics—is the primary factor dictating your curl pattern. So, while your diet cannot fundamentally change your genetically-determined curl pattern, the right nutrition can dramatically improve the health, strength, and definition of your natural curls.

While genetic factors primarily determine a person's natural hair texture, a severe deficiency in vitamin C can, in fact, cause hair to grow in a bent, coiled, or "corkscrew" shape due to impaired protein structure. This pathological change, a hallmark of the condition known as scurvy, is a significant departure from the healthy, natural curl determined by genetics.

In a rare documented case from 2022, a severe selenium deficiency caused an adult woman’s hair to develop a curly texture. This unusual instance highlights how extreme nutritional deficits can impact hair, though generally, no single common deficiency causes hair to curl.

While genetics are the primary determinant of hair color, recent research has found a significant association between low levels of vitamin D and premature graying. This does not mean that vitamin D changes hair color directly, but a severe deficiency can disrupt the processes that maintain natural pigmentation.