The Morphology and Selection of Hair Types opus 811
| 2 April 2026 1238 Hours | | Anatomy, Biology, Evolution, Migration |
I lived and taught in Lesotho, Africa, for five years.
Of course I was surrounded by Africans all the time.
My thoughts often strayed as to why we humans
Were different in some ways.
Hair was an outstanding varying feature.
Tightly coiled, Afro-textured hair has been studied
And revealed to be a crucial evolutionary adaptation.
The coiled hair morphology helped early equatorial humans
Stay cool and protect their brains from intense solar radiation.
The primary adaptive benefit of tightly coiled hair
Is its role in thermoregulation and water conservation.
This structure acts as a natural sun shield,
Blocking direct sun from the scalp
More effectively than straight hair.
The air gaps among the curls create a layer near the scalp
Of cooler, dry air, which provides the needed insulation.
The human brain is sensitive to heat and also generates its own,
Thus this hair structure is a passive mechanism,
Helping to keep the brain from trapping heat.
Some hypotheses suggest that this type of hair mass
May have provided some protection during conflicts
Or from predators.
This adaptation allowed for larger brain development.
As humans migrated out of Africa into cooler climates,
This allowed for the selection of other hair textures,
Due to random variation
Such as wavy or straight hair which became
More common in the north.