Els van Dam wrote:
> > David, and Dennis I have done a lot of reading this afternoon, and have learned a lot. Indeed human hair also has epidermal scales. These scales which are flattened, pointed cells, forming the outside of the hair or wool fiber as the bark covers a tree.. These horny cells overlap each other like the scales of a fish. The end of the scales are somewhat turned out, giving a serrated or notched appearance. These semi free scales have the ability to interlock with one and other. On Hair there are not nearly as many as on wool. That is where the difference comes in. That will make hair smooth and wool with sometimes as many as 2,900 scales per inch not nearly as smooth. Compare Merino wool with Lincoln long hair, the last is long and smooth and shiny, while the Merino is very fine and curly with lots of crimp. Merino will felt well and Lincoln not as well. So it is a question of how many scales there are per inch or cm. Alpaca has not as many as some sheep breeds. My friend who runs an Alpaca farm, E-mailed me with this information this afternoon. The baby Alpaca hair is not nearly as good to felt with as the fleece of an much older animal.
thank you everyone for all the great answers.
Els
> David's explanation is correct for alpaca hair also. Gail is a hair
> stylist and a country girl also. David I think is insinuating that he
> thinks alpaca hair has barbs just like human or llama hair, his is
> correct. Gail says their is a proper name for the type of mammal hair
> that has barbs or layers of scales or what ever you want to call it but,
> she does not remember at the time. She says camel hair and many more > felt very well.
>
> Saying, their is a name for the type of hair that felts but she does not
> remember proper name for that type. She says after so many years has
> passed since school, she requires 48 hours notice for questions. :) >
> Meaning, our hair, sheep, llama, camel, goat, and many are that type.
> The type that has the barbs that cause felting.
>
> Gail said if you put the five types of hair under a microscope you would
> see why and the similarities.
>
> I hope this helps you Els. If we find out the acronyms that are used to
> describe what I try to explain I will pass it on.
>
> Hugs & God bless,
> Dennis & Gail