Hair Whorl Patterns on the Posterior Aspect of the Scalp among Nigerians

Abstract

The types and incidence of hair whorl pattern on the posterior aspect of the scalp amongst Nigerians was studied using a population sample with ages ranging between 15 and 40 years. The age range chosen was so because the scalp hair apparently deteriorates with aging as seen in senile alopecia. Five hundred subjects within and around Enugu metropolis, chosen randomly were studied. A photograph of the individual's scalp was taken from the rear (posterior) view. Observations for the location of the hair whorls were noted and studied. It was observed that Nigerians tend to have the centre of their hair whorl located mainly in the right superior-medial aspects of the scalp (44%) relative to the median plane and majority of the population (68.6%) had their hair whorls running in the clock-wise direction. We note that, hair whorls patterns of Nigerian deviate from the midpoint of the head with a mean value of 18.37° + 0.77°. This is not too acute within the sample, when compared with the minimum value 0°.