Spontaneous Super-Contraction of Animal Hair

    July 1935 in “ Nature ”
    Rebekah Hall
    TLDR Animal hair can curl tightly on its own, especially in foxes, due to changes in keratin.
    The document discusses the phenomenon of spontaneous super-contraction in the guard hairs of raw pelts from fur-bearing animals, likely due to the oxidation of the disulphide link in keratin. This condition, which occurs without heat or chemical treatment, results in extra-normal curvature of the hair, most pronounced at the tip, and is frequently observed in white and red foxes. The super-contraction can affect localized areas or the entire skin, leading to a frizzy appearance in severe cases.
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