Hair is made of protein filaments which grow from follicles in the dermis, a layer of the skin. Hair contains a protein named keratin, some melanin and oils.Despite its many textures and colours, all hair is made from the same materials.

The shape of each hair strand is determined by the shape of the follicle and the angle at which it grows out of the skin. Curly hair tends to be very oval shaped and grows at a very steep angle.

Even though a baby may appear bald for the first few months or even up to the age of 5 their follicles are already fully present at birth. This means all the hair they will ever have during their entire life is determined before birth by their genetics. This is useful to know because :

1. It will prevent you from falling for marketing claims that promise miracles.
2. It should underscore the importance of avoiding hair damage in the first place.

Curly hair ranges from loose waves typically found in some Caucasians and some Asians to super tight ringlets found in people of African descent. Afro curls range from small, tight curls that look like little circles or O shape ringlets, all the way to bigger loose curls with an S shape. There are also medium C shape curls. Most babies and children will have more than one texture of hair present on the head. This continues into adulthood. Its absolutely fine and once you know how to manage the hair it becomes an asset allowing for versatility in styling. Super-cool huh?