Hair is a unique and incredibly diverse part of the human body. Regardless of its color, length or texture, it can say a lot about an individual’s personality. Whether they use their tresses to express themselves through the latest styles or to communicate a certain mood, there are endless ways that people choose to style their hair. That’s why it’s important to be specific when describing your character’s hair in your story or essay. Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of descriptive hair words to help you better convey the details of your character’s tresses.
Hair thickness is an important factor to consider when determining how a person’s hair looks. Whether it’s fine, medium or coarse, each type of hair has a different appearance and feel. Fine hair feels like an ultra-fine strand of silk and is often translucent when held up to light. Medium hair has a spongy feel and is slightly stiffer than thin hair, but less rough or stiff than coarse hair. Coarse hair has a hard and wiry feel.
Each hair has a unique structure, and the way it feels is determined by its consistency. This means that fine hair has a very small circumference, while coarse hair has the largest. The sturdiness of a person’s hair is also dependent on their consistency, as well as the thickness and curl patterns.
Forensic anthropologists are commonly asked to examine and analyze hair as trace evidence. Because it is so durable and can be so difficult to destroy, hair is an invaluable tool in criminal investigations. When examining hair, the forensic scientist will look at the morphological properties of the shaft and the cuticle. Specifically, they will look at the coiled-coil keratin phase, intermediate filaments and the cell membrane complex.
In addition to being a great source of identifying information, the structure of a person’s hair can also help determine the age of an individual. This is because the hair follicles can have different cycles of growth, rest and renewal, depending on the species. Eventually, the hair will lose its strength and begin to degrade. During this process, it is normal to see a decrease in the size of the follicle and a corresponding change in the diameter of the hair.
The most common causes of hair loss are excessive dyeing, bleaching and over-washing with harsh shampoos. The good news is that there are plenty of products on the market designed to strengthen your strands and keep them looking their best. One of our favorite shampoos to use is this non-sulfate product from Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud. It’s free of silicones, sulfates and parabens and infused with grape seed, argan, sweet almond, coconut, safflower and macadamia oils to keep your hair healthy. We recommend rinsing it out with water after a thorough massage and following with a nourishing conditioner. It’s the perfect formula to help you get your gorgeous tresses back on track.