Why do Africans have curly hair?

Question

What caused Africans to have developed hair follicles for curly hair?

why europeans and asians have developed follicles for straight hair, while africans have developed follicles for curly hair?

What conditions have caused hair follicles for straight or curly hair?

Answer 1

I also like Dawn H's answer...
the rounder the hair folicle the straighter the hair (ie a circular folicle will be staight... and an oval folicle wavy, an elipse curly,)

Here's anothe theory perhaps as africa is where people originated maybe that's how their hair started out, and as we branched off and moved to different environments our skin and hair became paler and straighter?

Answer 2

Africans have elliptical hair follicles and the follicle itself beneath the skin is actually curly, which causes the hair that grows from it to curl and actually be kinda flat, like a ribbon.

Unless your question is about evolution. In which case it would be more accurate to ask why europeans and asians have developed follicles for straight hair, which is related to the colder climates and the ability for straight hair to cover the shoulders and neck.

Answer 3

Anthropologists say that their hair grows in "cooling coils". The way straight hair layers and fluffs holds in heat better where it's needed. But traditional African cultures do not rely only on nature. Tribal women tend to cut their hair very short-- even bald is not unusual in some tribes.

Answer 4

I cant say I know this answer, but my theory is that, Africans evolved in hot weather. The tight curls cover the scalp very well, preventing sunburn.
Sounds reasonable.

Answer 5

I like the first answer. Thats a good theory.

Answer 6

because they have many (disulphide bonds)thay r found in [cortex]

Answer 7

who knows that .......... that's haw the god want it 2 b