In a world where every hair care product claims to be made for your individual hair type, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there really are true scientific differences between hair types.
For example, a study recently published in the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (57, 327-338 July 2006) discovered that there are at least 5 basic differences between Asian and Caucasian hair.
1) Number of Cuticle Layers
Cuticles are the protective “shingles” that guard the inner protein structure of your hair. Typical human hair has 5 to 10 layers of cuticles. Asian hair has more (closer to 10) than Caucasian (which has closer to 5). Asian cuticles are also wider, thicker and more densely packed.
2) Flatness of Cuticles
On Asian hair, the cuticles are laid down with at a steeper angle. Caucasian hair has flatter cuticles.
3) Distance Between Cuticles
The interval, or distance, between cuticle cells is narrower in Asian hair than in Caucasian hair.
4) How Hair Breaks
As Asian hair is stretched or pulled, the cuticles tend to break off in large pieces that keep their original shape. On the other hand, the cuticles of Caucasian hair tend to break into smaller fragments and fall off. In this sense, Caucasian cuticles are more fragile.
5) Why Hair Breaks
The cuticles of Asian hair tends to fall off because the adhesive that holds the cuticle cells together fails. In Caucasian hair, the adhesive holds better but the cuticle cell itself starts to break first.
What does this all mean?
For the first time, scientists have proven that Asian hair has a more solid structure than Caucasian hair. This may account for the beautiful long, shiny look that so many Asian women are known for. The Beauty Brains think it also suggests that Asians may need different hair care products than Caucasians.
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Tiara Says:
What type of Asian?
Kim Says:
Well, that begs the question, what sort of products does Asian hair need? Particular ingredients?
Susan Kuchinksas Says:
grrr. I’m so jealous!
jamier Says:
don’t be too jealous… at least with my hair, it’s so thick that the only two real styling options i have are flat ironing or a haircut!
i would love to hear any ingredient recommendations!
thebeautybrains Says:
The article didn’t mention a specific type of “Asian” hair.
Tia Says:
What type of “asian” ??? Were any other hair type studies with evidence published?
thebeautybrains Says:
In this particular study the types of hair listed were ‘Asian’ and ‘Caucasian’. Since the primary publishers of research in the JSCC are from Japan, I would guess that this population is who the authors were talking about.
bobsmith Says:
There is no scientific evidence to back any of this. Where are the valid sources? And what type of Asian and what type of Caucasian? I don’t buy this “research” at all.
thebeautybrains Says:
Hi Bob: Maybe you missed it, but our post does cite the journal reference for this research. Take another peek.
hanna Says:
i am so glad i came across this article as i have always had a bit of a hair complex! as i am a white girl but i have asian hair? crazy i know but hairdressers always ask me if i have mixed ancestry, as far as i know i don’t, but my hair grows outwards, is jet black with a redish shine in the light, is very thick and dense and i have about 3 crowns? lol i often get comments about how different it looks for a white girl, i would love to know if you guys find or develop any products for “asian” hiar as i have a hard time managing it, it is very strong hair and won’t curl! xxx
Lindsey Says:
haha i am asian and my hair is so much better than all of yours, cause my hair is dark brown STRAIGHT and SHINY!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahaha!!!!!
Not only the president but also a client Says:
I will be formulating someting special for the asian community. Look out for TOC haircare line in the near future.
Diana Says:
I’m mostly “Asian” but do NOT have this so-called fabulous straight shiny healthy dense Asian hair you speak of Where is the proof? Tell us! Actually, it pisses me off when I go to a salon, they have one look at me and tell me that my “Asian hair” is A, B, and C - that it is
A) thick and straight (it’s actually fine and naturally wavy)
B) “inferior” to Caucasian hair for dyeing (I am actually of mixed French and Spanish descent, combined with Chinese and Filippino, so this is total bull since I am part Caucasian)
C)Difficult to style because it’s “ethnic” - what happens is they give me a cut for “straight Asian hair” when in fact I have mixed white/Asian wavy fine hair, and what they do doesn’t work for me AT ALL. It’s really annoying that this is happening and I can only hope that with the plethora of mixed kids growing up in America today that this will change completely one day - that stylists will understand that not everybody fits into the ethnic box they fabricate.
joanna Says:
shave your head and get a wig!