Why is My Hair Growing Back Curly?
Your hair's texture—straight, wavy, or curly—is determined by the shape of your hair follicle. When hair falls out, the follicle can change shape, leading to a change in hair texture. This is why hair may grow back curly even if it was previously straight.
- Curly hair: Grows from oval-shaped follicles.
- Straight hair: Grows from round-shaped follicles.
When hair falls out, the follicle may collapse and change its shape from round to oval. This change in shape causes the hair to grow back with a different texture. This change can be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for the hair loss and the extent of the follicle's alteration.
Reasons for Changes in Hair Texture
Several factors can contribute to hair growing back curly after a period of straight hair or vice versa:
- Hair loss: As mentioned, hair loss, whether due to a medical condition, hormonal changes, or other factors, can cause the hair follicle to collapse, resulting in a change in hair texture upon regrowth. The follicle may resume its original shape later, leading to a return to the previous hair type. This is supported by various sources like Reddit posts discussing this exact phenomenon. https://www.reddit.com/r/HaircareScience/comments/7yp4no/why_are_my_roots_growing_out_curly_all_of_a_sudden/
- Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, menopause, or puberty can significantly impact hormone levels, affecting hair growth and texture. These hormonal shifts can alter the shape of the hair follicle, causing changes in curl pattern. https://www.quora.com/Why-did-my-hair-start-growing-curly-when-it-is-not-even-naturally-curly-What-should-I-do-to-keep-it-straight-and-manageable
- Damage to the follicle: Damage caused by excessive heat styling, chemical treatments (like perms or relaxers), or physical trauma can also temporarily or permanently alter the follicle's shape. This may lead to changes in hair texture during regrowth.
- Genetics: While not directly influencing the change in texture, genetics play a role in determining the potential range of hair textures. If curly hair is in your family history, the change might reflect this inherent potential rather than a complete transformation.
It's important to note: Shaving your head does not change the hair's texture. The shape of the hair follicle remains the same, so the hair will grow back with the same texture. https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/posts/shaving-my-babys-head-so-her-hair-grows-back-curly-%EF%B8%8F/723621236466433/
