Curly Hair Follicle Is Sculpted by a Contracted Arrector Pili Muscle: A Hypothesis with Treatment Implications
January 2024
in “
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
”
Studysummary This study hypothesizes that curly hair is shaped by the contraction of the Arrector Pili Muscle within the follicle, potentially modifiable through muscle-relaxing treatments, but further research is needed to confirm this mechanism. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The article hypothesizes that the contraction of the Arrector Pili Muscle (APM) in hair follicles is responsible for creating curly or coily hair by curving the outer root sheath. It suggests that smooth muscle relaxants could potentially be used to relax curly hair by modulating APM contraction. The study calls for further research, including AI studies, to confirm the APM's role in hair curl patterns and to explore treatment options. The hypothesis is supported by observations of the APM's anatomical and functional characteristics.
