Hair Type and Hair Loss in Ethnicities, Part 1 : People from different ancestries have varying beliefs, skin colors, hair colors, eye colors and more. Ancestry also affects hair type and hair loss in different ethnicities. In terms of non-Caucasian hair loss in ethnicities, the most common causation factor is still androgenic alopecia, or pattern baldness. This applies to hair loss in both men and women of all races.

HAIR TYPE AND HAIR LOSS IN ETHNICITIES

Other secondary factors, however, differ between the races related to hair type and hair loss causation factors. If you are considering a hair transplant, it’s important to note that your hair type also affects surgical hair restoration. The two races that differ most from Caucasians in terms of hair type and hair loss are those of Asian and African descent. Addressing hair loss in different ethnic groups differ from addressing hair loss in Caucasians for three main reasons.

Different races have more prevalent hair loss causation factors than Caucasians
Genetic or self-imposed hair loss varies more in different ethnicities than Caucasians
Hair type and hair follicles vary between people of different ethnic groups

Asian Hair Type and Hair Loss

The hair follicles of Asians and those of Asian descent differ from Caucasians in that Asians have more dense hair follicles. The positive element is consistency of Asian hair with thick, extremely straight follicles. This hair type is ideal for follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Hair Type and Hair Loss in Ethnicities, Part 1 — The two races that differ most from Caucasians in terms of hair type, hair loss and FUE are those of Asian and African descent. Asian hair is thick with extremely straight follicles.

However, Asians also have fewer hairs per square centimeter. Although they have an appearance of greater hair density, fewer hair follicles need to be taken into account for any type of hair transplant in Asians. The traditional donor area on the head can be much smaller with less hair follicles than that of Caucasians.

Asians and those of Asian descent experience pattern baldness less than Caucasians as a whole. However, hair loss in Asians is increasing. Many Asians experience superior results with FUE. However, a more advanced form of FUE can increase donor areas by using nontraditional donor hair such as body hair transplantation (BHT). Donor hair is taken from non-head sources such as the beard, chest or leg.

Another consideration is that Asians and those of Asian descent have a greater likelihood of developing keloids. Keloids typically form with scar tissue during the wound healing process due to abrasions, surgery and more. During the healing process, too much collagen is produced and results in an overgrowth from the original scar.

To learn more about the differences, read Hair Type and Hair Loss in Ethnicities, Part 2.