A Hairy Subject
Written by weewilly on May 30, 2008 – 10:24 am -
Hair confuses me, human hair that is. If you closely examine the animal kingdom, you’ll notice that most animals of a given species, or at least a given breed within the species, have very similar hair density, patterns, and colors. When was the last time you saw a blonde chimp, or one with an afro, or even a bald one? Differences are very rare, and that applies to most of the animal world.
Humans, however, are far different. Not only do we have different hair colors (I’m talking natural here), but different densities, growth patterns, textures, and thicknesses. Why is it that Asians have almost no visible body hair while Italians often sport something akin to a shag carpet? If hair was intended to serve a given purpose, shouldn’t it serve the same purpose on everyone, particularly everyone living in a similar climate? How can it serve such purpose if it grows so differently?
And getting even more specific, why does it grow where it does on the individual body? Why, for example, do I, a moderately hairy guy, have no hair growing on my ankles? They’re smooth as a baby’s bottom - well, maybe not an Italian baby’s. It never did grow there. Does this mean I have a weakness in my ankles like Achilles did in his heels? Am I the god ”Ankillies?” On the other hand, as I’ve aged, hair has started to appear in some very questionable places. Is there a reason we need hair on our noses – or in our ears – or on our ear lobes – or on our toes?. Why does it fall off the top of our heads but not off the sides? Why don’t we go bald in the chest or the back? Why doesn’t it grow on the palms of our hands or the undersides of our wrists? My son has a natural tail on the back of his head. Kids used to pay big money for haircuts like that when I was young, but it’s not the style now. Why does he have a tail? And why does hair grow faster on my face than it does anywhere else on my body? Should I take a hint?
I have a lot of questions about hair, because hair confuses me.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:05 am
And why does hair grow longer on certain places than others. Why would hair on the head want to grow long but not on the chest, arms or pubic area! Is it natural to cut hair or are we, by nature, suppose to let it grow as long as it wants? If so what was the value of long hair on the head? Since we cover our bodies now, will evolution eventually make all people hairless ALL over the covered parts?