Hair is a major part of a person’s outward appearance, and can be an important symbol of their identity. For this reason, many people take great care of their hair. The right descriptive hair words can help immerse readers in the story and give them a clear picture of a character’s look. The correct hair word choice can also help avoid confusion or misrepresentation.
Hair, or hirsute, is composed of hair follicles that produce thick strands of keratin, which is a protein. The strands then extend through the skin, where they connect with other strands and form the shaft. The keratin is held in place by special proteins and contains a pigment called melanin that determines hair color. Hair also contains other minerals, such as calcium, potassium, zinc, chromium, copper and iron.
For humans, a person’s hair is generally straight or wavy, but it can be curly, kinky or frizzy. The texture of a person’s hair is determined by the size of the follicle, the thickness of the strand and its response to environmental conditions. The follicles are influenced by hormones, and the thickening or thinning of a person’s hair is caused by a change in the concentration of these hormones.
The condition of a person’s hair can be determined by the amount of lubrication on its surface and the length of time the strand has been exposed to water or heat. The more hydrated and oiled the hair, the less likely it is to break, and the longer the strands will be. The hair follicles are stimulated to produce more hair by the presence of these lubricants, and they also respond to the level of stimulation by the follicular hormones.
Besides its aesthetic value, hair serves several other purposes, including thermoregulation and sensory input. For example, the hair on the head helps to protect the skull from sun damage. The hair on the body protects against cold air, and the hair around the eyes (eyelashes) prevents sweat and other particles from dripping into or irritating the eyes.
A hairstyle can also indicate a person’s unofficial group membership. For instance, in the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell’s followers cropped their hair close to the scalp in defiance of the ringlets and curls worn by the King’s men, and later, female art students who wore bobbed hair in the 1920s were referred to as “Cropheads.” For this reason, it is important that writers choose the correct hair description words to help readers identify with the characters they are reading about.