Natural Hairstyles Research Articles

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia

A progressive scarring alopecia of the central scalp is commonly seen in young to middle-aged females of African descent. It usually starts at the vertex or mid top of the scalp and gradually spreads centrifugally, hence, the unifying term of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. The clinical pattern is suggestive of female pattern alopecia, but a lack of follicular pores indicative of scarring is present. It can progress for years before slowly burning out. The etiology is unknown but genetic factors may be important. It is often associated with a history of traumatic hairstyling involving heat, traction, and chemicals. However, most patients of African descent without this disorder have similar styling habits. Nonetheless, avoidance of physical and chemical trauma to the scalp hair, the use of suitable shampoos and conditioners, and the encouragement of natural hairstyles may be helpful. Any infection should be treated. Topical or intralesional corticosteroids and systemic antibiotics may be useful and topical minoxidil should be tried with the hope of preventing further scarring and encouraging regrowth of recovering follicles. Current research into the etiology of this disorder will help to foster much-needed clinical trials of therapeutic agents.

Natural Hairstyle Modeling and Animation

In this paper, we develop a hairstyle modeling and animation technique specifically designed for human hairs, and we report several experimental results. Using simplified cantilever beam model and one-dimensional projective differential equations of angular momenta, we give a practical solution to the problem of enormous complexity. Even though our hair animation algorithm is an approximate solution, it includes all the relevant dynamic elements such as gravity, wind, inertia, air-resistance, hair-to-head, and hair-to-hair friction forces. Collision is an important element that makes a collection of hair strands look like hair. We develop an accurate but efficient hair-to-head and hair-to-hair collision detection and treatment algorithm. The algorithm produces quite realistic results; still it runs at an interactive speed. An interesting contribution of our algorithm is that it unifies hairstyle modeling and animation into a single equation, so that (1) hairstyling can be done under the effects of gravity and other internal or external forces, and (2) original hairstyle is more or less restored even after the initial hair is tangled by the application of external forces or head movements.

The Relationship of Physical Attractiveness and Similarity of Preferences to Peer Affiliation Among Black Children

The concept of physical attractiveness has had an interesting evolution in the black community. A number of studies have demonstrated that, in the past, standards of physical attractiveness for blacks were mainly derived from white perceptions of physical beauty.1 Evaluating themselves against the American ideal of attractiveness, blacks often attempted to beautify themselves by imitating whites.2 The late 1960s marked the advent of the Pride Movement, and with it came a quest for black identity. Along with slogans of Black is Beautiful, and and I'm Proud, came dashikis, afros, braided hairstyles, and the look. More specifically, the movement marked a rejection by blacks of typically white beauty standards.3 The changing attitudes toward beauty were evidenced by darkskinned girls with natural hairstyles winning both commercial and college beauty titles. This was a departure from the lightskinned, long straight haired, Caucasian featured winners of previous decades.4