>>Hmm, if very fine straight hair won't lock, what *does* it do if not combed or styled constantly?<<
Depends on the type of hair:
* Very fine straight hair that is oily tends to stay straight, without tangling a great deal, hanging in greasy rattails as you've described.
* Very fine hair that is average and fluffy, or dry and frizzy, will tangle -- sometimes severely enough that the tangles can't be undone, if left long enough.
Dreadlocks differ from tangles in that they are felt. The scales of the hairs open and lock together. Look closely at the surface of the dreadlocks and you will see that they are almost smooth; the individual hairs will not move and have fused into a compact mass. Tangles are looser and fuzzier, and individual hairs will still move. This is why they can sometimes be picked loose with enough patience.
The coarser and kinkier hair is, the better it tends to lock. The finer and straighter it is, the less well it tends to lock, but it may still tangle. In between you've got hair that will form dreadlocks, but they'll be looser and fuzzier especially at the surface.
I've seen a variety, and I've done research on hair types for some of my own writing. But if you're getting divergent answers, there are two options for solidifying the data:
1) Empirical research. Find several people of different hair types who will let you take a close look at their dreadlocks. Unless you've got a bunch of close friends who wear their hair this way, it's likely to annoy people.
2) Consult a real expert. Talk with a hairdresser, or several, who have ethnic clients and have seen dreadlocks in different types of hair.
Be aware that these are tendencies, not absolutes, especially in populations with a lot of genetic mixing. Aim for the most common effects and you should be okay.
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Re: Well...
Date: 2012-01-16 08:09 pm (UTC)Depends on the type of hair:
* Very fine straight hair that is oily tends to stay straight, without tangling a great deal, hanging in greasy rattails as you've described.
* Very fine hair that is average and fluffy, or dry and frizzy, will tangle -- sometimes severely enough that the tangles can't be undone, if left long enough.
Dreadlocks differ from tangles in that they are felt. The scales of the hairs open and lock together. Look closely at the surface of the dreadlocks and you will see that they are almost smooth; the individual hairs will not move and have fused into a compact mass. Tangles are looser and fuzzier, and individual hairs will still move. This is why they can sometimes be picked loose with enough patience.
The coarser and kinkier hair is, the better it tends to lock. The finer and straighter it is, the less well it tends to lock, but it may still tangle. In between you've got hair that will form dreadlocks, but they'll be looser and fuzzier especially at the surface.
I've seen a variety, and I've done research on hair types for some of my own writing. But if you're getting divergent answers, there are two options for solidifying the data:
1) Empirical research. Find several people of different hair types who will let you take a close look at their dreadlocks. Unless you've got a bunch of close friends who wear their hair this way, it's likely to annoy people.
2) Consult a real expert. Talk with a hairdresser, or several, who have ethnic clients and have seen dreadlocks in different types of hair.
Be aware that these are tendencies, not absolutes, especially in populations with a lot of genetic mixing. Aim for the most common effects and you should be okay.