The cuticle is the outer layer that protects the individual hair. The many layers on an Asian hair are also more dense and wider and thicker than on Caucasian hair. That gives the hair an illusion of being really shiny and silky.
We can finally conclude that it is the difference in the number of layers in the cuticles of the Asian hair type (more number of cuticles) that let it have a better hair shine, as compared to Caucasian and African hair types.
The cuticle layer in Asians is thicker with more compact cuticle cells than that in Caucasians. Asian hair generally exhibits the strongest mechanical properties, and its cross-sectional area is determined greatly by genetic variations, particularly from the ectodysplasin A receptor gene.
It's known that Japanese women typically wash and blow-dry their hair every day. Doing so ups the hair's shine factor because when you aim the dryer's hot air down the hair shaft, it smoothes the hair's cuticles to reflect more light. Win! But the heat has a drawback; it can dry out and damage strands.
* The shape of the follicle largely determines how hair grows. Because East Asian hair follicles are almost always completely round, they typically have very straight hair.
It has been reported that Asian hair is generally straight and is the thickest, while its cross-section is the most round-shaped among these three. Caucasian hair is generally straight or wavy and is the thinnest, while its cross-section is relatively elliptic.
We believe one of the reasons is that super-straight hair — also known as type 1a hair — is so rare. In fact, it's the rarest hair type. Only 2% of the world's population has 1a hair. It's mostly found in people of Asian descent.
Chinese princesses have been washing their hair with rice water since the old imperial dynasties. And the Huangluo women still rely on it today for keeping their locks lush, glossy, and astonishingly long!
“Men and women in South Korea are meticulous when it comes to maintaining healthy hair with a three-step process. After washing the hair with shampoo and conditioner, they often apply a hair essence or hair oil to achieve a shiny head of hair.
Asian hair, usually smooth and brown to black in color, grows perpendicular to the scalp. It has the fastest growth rate with about 1.4 centimeters per month.
The cuticle is the outer layer that protects the individual hair. The many layers on an Asian hair are also more dense and wider and thicker than on Caucasian hair. That gives the hair an illusion of being really shiny and silky. However, if the hair is too silky, it can be hard to get even a ponytail to stay in shape.
Cutting their hair only once in their lives (in their teens before they look for a relationship), the women look after their impressive locks by using fermented rice water (yep, the milky-coloured liquid left over from rinsing or boiling rice) which is said to be rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamin E, and has ...
China. In ancient China and Korea, hair was regarded as a precious legacy from parents. Most people would never cut their hair after they became adults, and cutting off one's hair was a penalty for minor crimes. Both men and women would coil up their hair and many hair-coiling styles were developed.
Women in China and Japan have long used rice water on their hair to enable it to grow longer and to stop it turning grey. Anecdotal evidence suggests it may also be effective at preventing tangles, but more research is needed. Rice water is the starchy water left over after rice is cooked or left to soak.
South Asian families all have a different oil they swear by, though: Vatika, Dabu Amla, almond oil, castor oil – it's really the dealer's choice when it comes to scalp massage. In my routine, I straighten, blow-dry and wear tight ponytails regularly.
“According to my hair stylist, Korean women use a hair essence or oil every single day, which is why they have such silky, soft, and shiny strands.” A personal favorite for Cho is British M's Organics Annatto Hair Oil, while Lee is a fan of the Mise en Scene Pearl Shining Hair Essence.
Before getting their hair shampooed, Korean women massage their scalp with a deep cleansing oil for a few minutes. Koreans wash their hair everyday to cleanse the scalp of dirt and sweat, as well as to maintain healthy hair. Doing so regularly helps keep the scalp clean and healthy, while also preventing hair loss.
While Chinese consumers' hair washing frequency has increased a lot, the majority of consumers still only wash their hair every two to three days. According to Mintel's recent research on China's haircare market, nearly half of Chinese consumers believe washing their hair every day will damage its health.
The majority of people in Japan washed their hair at least once a day as revealed in a survey conducted in September 2022. The largest share, almost 63 percent, of respondents stated that they washed their hair everyday in the evening.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, people formed the habit to wash their hair every 3 days and to bathe every 5 days. For this reason, the government often took 1 day off in every 5.
A general observation across experiments was that straight hair was perceived as younger, healthier, and more attractive than wavy hair and darker shades (medium copper and brown) were perceived more positively than blonde hair.
According to the survey, the majority of men (42%) found blonde hair to be the most attractive. This was followed by brunette (36%), red (16%), black (5%), and gray (1%).