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The Anthropology of Human Scalp Hair

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Dermatoanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair

Abstract

Hair is predominantly a proteinaceous fiber that originates from hair follicles located within the subcutis and/or dermis of the skin. It is one of the defining features of mammals, serving important functions, such as thermoregulation and endothermy. Among mammals, humans are exceptional in lacking a full covering of body hair. Instead the growth of terminal hairs is limited to specific body regions, such as the scalp, axillae, and groin. Our aim in this chapter is to provide an overview of the anthropology of human scalp hair. We will explore approaches to the study of variation in human scalp hair phenotypes, as well as the genetic and evolutionary basis of this diversity. The biology of human scalp hair, with emphasis on quantitative and qualitative differences among populations, as well as impact on hair grooming practices will also be discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology and Histopathology, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge, UK

    Ophelia E. Dadzie

  2. Imperial College London, University of London , London, UK

    Ophelia E. Dadzie

  3. Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA

    Tina Lasisi

  4. Department of Anthropology, Center for Human Evolution and Diversity, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, State College, PA, 16802, USA

    Nina G. Jablonski

Authors
  1. Ophelia E. Dadzie
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  2. Tina Lasisi
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  3. Nina G. Jablonski
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Correspondence to Ophelia E. Dadzie .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Center for Ethnic Skin, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Neelam A. Vashi

  2. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Dadzie, O.E., Lasisi, T., Jablonski, N.G. (2017). The Anthropology of Human Scalp Hair. In: Vashi, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Dermatoanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53961-4_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53961-4_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53960-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53961-4

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