Expert: Walter Hintz - 9/11/2007

Question
Do humans have different kinds of hair?  Why does our body hair (arms, legs) not grow as long as our head hair, or the same shape as pubic hair?

Answer
Hi Charles
Yes all hair is not the same.  It varies in color texture and length. Its length depends upon the activity of the hair follicles and straightness depends upon the protein structure which changes.  Early pubic hair for example is straight and fine and later gets coarse and curly.