It is the shape of the follicle which contributes to determining whether your hair is straight or curly. If the follicle is round, hair will tend to grow straight, while an oval follicle will give wavy hair and a hooked or elliptical-shaped follicle will give you curly hair. It is thought that certain drugs, such as some cancer treatments, can inhibit receptors on the follicles. That is why some people who have been through chemotherapy made notice their hair grows back curly once treatment has finished. Hormonal changes and humidity can also give you temporary curls.

The angle at which the hair grows out of your skin also affects your hairs’ curliness. Straight hairs tunnel vertically down into your scalp, while curly hairs tunnel in at an angle. This can also affect how oily your hair is, as hair growing at an angle can make it difficult for your natural oils to spread through your hair. That is why curly-haired people may find they don’t have to wash their hair as often as straight-haired counterparts. While this is a great benefit of having natural ringlets, curly haired-people also may encounter scalp irritation and dandruff more.

The shaft of your hair affects how curly it is because of the way protein molecules build up. Proteins such as keratins tend to build up unevenly in curly hair, collecting in the curve of your hair, make it curl even more. This affects your hair less than the shape of the follicle, however.

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