BETTER KNOW YOUR BODY: TEETH

Posted on by vlaw759

You can find a gazillion fun and not-so-fun facts about teeth online. Herewith, I save you the trouble of searching.

And why should you care? Because 50% of people report that a person’s smile is the first physical trait they notice. 61% of adults are attracted to somebody by their smile alone.

Smiling Baby no Teeth
  • And if you care about wrinkles: it takes 43 muscles to frown. It only takes 17 to smile.
  • The average woman smiles 62 time a day. The average man? Only 8 times.
  • Kids laugh roughly 400 times a day. The average adult laughs only 15 times per day.
  • 48% of young adults have untagged themselves from a photo on Facebook because of their smile.
  • Smiling isn’t just a sign of happiness—it actually makes you feel happier by releasing endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals.

Toothy Anatomy

Tooth enamel is the hardest part of the entire body; even harder than bone.

In fact, tooth enamel is actually stronger than steel! Though it breaks much easier.

The next layer down, dentin, is also stronger than bone.

  • Teeth are the only parts of the human body that can’t repair themselves. Their enamel coating is not a living tissue.
  • One third of teeth are underneath the gums.
  • Baby teeth start to form when the baby is still in the womb, but don’t begin to erupt until a child is between 6-12 months old.
  • However, about 1 in every 2000 babies are born with ‘natal’ teeth. Natal teeth usually erupt on the bottom gums and tend to have weak roots. Doctors often remove them to prevent problems with breastfeeding.
  • The first set of teeth (baby teeth or milk teeth) has 20 teeth. Baby teeth usually fall out in the same order they came in. The bottom front teeth are usually the first to go, followed by the top front teeth.
  • The second set of teeth (adult teeth) has 32 teeth.
  • Humans get only 2 sets of teeth in their lifetime, whereas some animals like dolphins only get one (monophyodont), and others (polyphyodont) grow multiple sets (e.g., sharks grow around 40).
  • Human teeth do not keep growing once the second set have fully erupted. Rabbits and horses’ teeth, among others, grow continually and have to be worn or filed down.

Toothy TLC

  • Dentists recommend brushing 2 minutes twice a day.
  • The average person only brushes for 45 to 70 seconds a day.
  • If you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, you will spend more than a month of your life brushing, about 38.5 days.
  • 25% of adults DO NOT brush twice a day. This increases their risk of developing tooth decay by 33%.
  • If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 40% of your tooth surfaces.
  • People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than those who do not. There are 10-12 teaspoons of sugar in a single can of soda.
  • Tooth decay is among the most common health problems in the United States, only after the common cold!
  • Just one cavity can cost $2,000: dollars over a lifetime.
  • 90% of diseases affecting multiple systems of the body also have oral symptoms.
  • There are more bacteria in the human mouth than there are people on the Earth. More than 300 types of bacteria make up dental plaque.
  • Replacing a toothbrush after illnesses helps prevent the potential for re-infection.

Teeth- and Mouth- Related Facts

Today, Americans buy more than 14 million gallons of toothpaste every year.

  • No two people have the same set of teeth, not even identical twins; they are as unique as fingerprints due to the shape, size, and alignment of each set of teeth.
  • No two people have the same tongue print either, each unique as fingerprints
  • The longest human tooth officially documented was in Singapore and was extracted in 2009. It measured 3.2cm (about 1.26 inches) long.
  • People chew more on the dominant side of their bodies: right handers chew right sided;. left handers tend to chew left sided.
  • More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones. Not surprising, given that blue is the most popular color.
  • 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity by age 17.
  • Roughly 25% of American adults have no teeth.
  • The average North American can exert 30-40: pounds per square inch of pressure with their jaws. Some Inuit people can exert 350 lbs. per square inch of pressure!
  • An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it also makes you 3X more likely to develop dental decay.
  • Kids miss 51 million school hours a year due to dental related illnesses.
  • In North America, shoppers purchase over 3 million miles of dental floss annually.
  • Toothpicks are the object most often choked on by Americans.
  • The stone-faced farmer in artist Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic” painting was actually the artist’s dentist.
  • Sports-related injuries account for approximately 5 million missing teeth per year.
  • Americans spend $100 billion a year on hair care products, and only $2 billion a year on dental care products.

Historic Dental Care

  • The first “toothbrushes” were tree twigs. Chewing on the tips of the twigs spread out the fibers, which people then used to clean the teeth.
  • The earliest known dentist was Hesi-ren, an Egyptian “doctor of the tooth” who lived around 3000 B.C.
  • Humans have been filling cavities in teeth since the earliest of times with a variety of different materials, including gum, stone chips, and even turpentine resin. A Neolithic man, who lived 6,500 years ago in modern-day Slovenia, had a tooth filling made out of beeswax! This simple wax cap applied to a broken tooth is the oldest known example of a dental filling. 
The Ancient Maya sometimes decorated their teeth with precious stones.
  • Tooth pulling existed long before anesthetics. The pullers included blacksmiths and wigmakers; also “tooth-drawers,” who publicly pulled teeth for sideshow entertainment; and more privately, in the 18th and 19th centuries, a “barber-surgeon” removed a tooth with a “key,” which was a clawed device that looked a little like a broken corkscrew.
  • The earliest manufactured toothbrushes were made in China in 1498. Crafstmen embedded bristles from hogs, horses, and badgers in ivory or bamboo handles.
  • Modern toothpaste has only been available for around the past hundred years. Before the invention of what we call toothpaste, humans used all kind of mixtures such as crushed oyster shells, ground chalk, charcoal, pulverized brick, lemon juice and salt. Ancient Greeks used pumice, talc, alabaster, coral powder or iron rust as toothpaste. Yuck.
  • Then there were toothpicks and tooth cloths. Not all toothpicks were intended for disposal; e.g., King Charles I of England had a gold toothpick. Disposable toothpicks became popular in the 19th C, particularly after the establishment of the first toothpick factory in 1869.
  • In colonial days, many people didn’t know how to sign their own names. Instead of signing a contract, indentured servants sometimes sealed their agreement by leaving their dental imprint in wax.
  • Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s famous dentures were not made from wood. Dentists made him four pairs of custom choppers from gold, ivory, lead, and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth.
  • In the 1800s, people who had false teeth in England ate in their bedrooms before gatherings and events at the dinner table. This uniquely Victorian tradition protected them against the embarrassment of having their teeth ‘fall off’ while dining.
  • Not too long ago, dentures were common wedding gifts in the British Isles. At that time, many people expected to lose all their teeth and had their teeth extracted at an early age.
  • Tooth brushing didn’t become a standard part of everyday American life until the 1940s! Rudimentary tooth care was taught as early as the 1910s. Some schools introduced dental hygiene programs like toothbrush drills, in which children practiced brushing their teeth with their teachers. But it was slow to catch on. American soldiers during WWII were required to brush their teeth every day, and returning soldiers brought the habit back home with them.
  • In 1866, Lucy Beaman Hobbs became the first licensed female dentist.
  • 1882 was the year commercial floss was first manufactured.
  • In 1905, Dental Assistant Irene Newman trained to clean teeth. She became the first Dental Hygienist.
  • Plastic handled toothbrushes came along in the early 1900s, and nylon bristles followed in 1938
  • In 1994, a West Virginia prison inmate braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall, and escaped!
  • The most valuable tooth belonged to Sir Isaac Newton. In 1816, one of his teeth was sold in London for $3,633, or in today’s terms $35,700. The tooth was set in a ring! (source: Guinness World Records).

Not Just Teeth, but Teeth Related

  • Your mouth can produce up to 730 litres of saliva per year. That’s 192.8 gallons. Another estimate is that the average human being produces 100,000 gallons of saliva during their lifetime.
  • Not precisely teeth, but FYI: although people regularly swallow saliva from the mouth, they become disgusted when asked to spit into a glass and then drink the saliva.
  • In 1986, the winner of the National Spelling Bee won by spelling ODONTALGIA (which means toothache)
  • The average amount of money left by the tooth fairy in 1950 was 25 cents. In 1988 it was $1.00, the going rate now is $2.00.
  • People who smoke are 2-7 times more likely to develop periodontal disease than non-smokers.
  • Almost 65 million American adults have some form of periodontal disease; 38.4% are women, 56.4% are men.
  • Expectant mothers with poor oral hygiene are 7X more likely to deliver premature and low birth weight babies.
  • 95% of American adults with diabetes also have periodontal disease.
  • People with periodontal disease are 2X more likely to develop heart disease.
  • The lifespan of a taste bud is about 10 days. The five known tastes detected by taste buds are bitter, sour, salty, sweet, and umami.
  • 60% of people don’t known that a sore jaw, when combined with chest pain, can signal a heart attack – especially in women.
  • Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum.
  • 90% of system diseases have oral manifestations.
  • According to a recent survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather have a dental appointment than sit next to someone who is talking on a cell phone.

Sources

Not surprisingly, a lot of facts show up in more than one place. All of the above are in one or more of the following websites:

VC Dental — Fun Facts About Teeth

Children’s Dental Village — Interesting Facts About Teeth and Dentistry

Smiles Change Lives — Fun Facts About Teeth, Number by Number

Affinity Dental of La Mesa — Five Interesting (and WEIRD!) Facts About Teeth

Pediatric Dentistry of Alaska — Fun Tooth Trivia: 20 Facts Kids Will Love About Their Teeth

Imagine Smiles — Fun Dental Facts

MY LIFE WITH FEET

Posted on by vlaw759

My earliest awareness of my feet came as a toddler: walking barefoot in the yard I was attacked—bitten? stung?—by something venomous. The culprit remains anonymous. But the result was a trip to the ER, and swelling, pain, and itching that seemed to go on forever.

The long-term result is a life-long sensitivity to any insect venom. A sweat bee sting near my eyebrow causes my eye to swell shut and that side of my face to swell painfully. I’m especially prone to mosquito bites on my feet and ankles. For some, the itching lasts as little as a few minutes; mine itch for days. I end up taking OTC allergy meds such as Benadryl.

Painful Feet

Pain in my feet started early. In elementary school I dropped a ten-gallon bucket, the bottom rim falling across my big toes. Thereafter I suffered ingrown toenails until well into adulthood when I had them surgically treated. Recently, I’ve noticed an in-growing tendency again. More surgery in my future?

It turns out I’m far from alone here. A recent survey of podiatrists reported that 88.6% performed nail surgery, mostly (54.3%) fewer than five a month. Indeed, ingrown toenails account for about 20% of foot problems.

Feet arthritis x ray
Arthritis in the metatarsals (not mine)

My most recent foot problem is arthritis. Each foot includes 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments (NLM , 2023), and arthritis can affect any of or all of them. According to the Cleveland Clinic, arthritis can be caused by natural wear and tear, health conditions, and injuries. In my case, it seems to be natural wear and tear. I’m not athletic, but even so my feet take significant abuse.

As with the case for everyone, my feet support up to 1.5x my body weight while walking. (YFC, 2019) The average person walks about 100,000 miles in a lifetime. (AWP, 2019) During running, feet absorb forces up to 4x one’s body weight. (CSBS, 2023) My conclusion: avoiding excess weight is a kindness to one’s feet!

About 8 in 10 Americans experience foot pain (KURU, 2025), and women are 40% more likely to experience foot pain than men. (JFAR, 2008) One in thirteen adults spends $250 or more monthly on foot pain-related care. (KURU, 2025) I’m comforted to be among the other 12! So far, I get along with a couple of Tylenol Arthritis per day.

A friend texted, “Having just finished ballet class, I am exquisitely and excruciatingly aware of my feet.” My heart goes out to her, and to everyone who’s activities frequently stress their feet. (Think dancers of all sorts, football kickers, runners, jumpers…)

Polynesian dancers

Polite Feet

Feet have more sweat glands per inch than any other part of the body, (MNT, 2024), and awareness of foot odor was common in my family. Foot sweat, as with all human sweat, is odorless until bacteria have their effect. The feet host more bacteria than say, elbows.

Bare feet are also polite in a Buddhist temple
  • Each foot can produce up to half a pint of sweat per day. (SCFC, 2023)
  • The foot deodorant industry was worth approximately $1.2 billion in 2025
  • In many cultures, feet are considered either sacred or taboo. (MDPI, 2018) If you’re traveling internationally, it’s important to know the difference.
  • Japan and India have strong customs around shoe removal.
  • Upon entering the Blue Mosque, I (and everyone) left shoes outside on racks supplied for the purpose. Stealing shoes outside a mosque is a most disgusting crime.
  • On the other hand, in some cultures, showing your sole is seen as disrespectful. (BusinessInsider, 2016)

Sensual Feet

I love the part of a pedicure when my feet are massaged; ditto for a body massage.

reflexology feet
  • The soles of one’s feet contain 8,000 nerves, making them ultra-sensitive. (FAFI, 2023)
  • Foot massages can boost circulation and reduce stress, (KURU, 2023) not to mention just feeling good!
  • At the risk of TMI: I’ve never felt more loved—more totally accepted—than when a lover kissed my feet and sucked my toes.
  • Reflexology is based on the idea that points on the feet correspond with other areas of the body. I had reflexology in Taiwan once, ended up bruised and weeping. The belief was that the more it hurt, the more good it was doing. The same principle leads to pebbled walkways where one walks barefoot. I could take barely a few steps.

Pretty Feet

At age twelve, I was 5’7” tall and wore size nine shoes. At the time, I feared following in my Aunt Mary’s footsteps: she topped out at 6’5” and had to order her size twelve shoes from catalogues. But that turned out to be my full adult growth—at least as far as height goes.

  • The size of feet can change due to weight gain during pregnancy, or aging. (KURU, 2024) My shoes are now a full size bigger than when I reached my adult height.
  • Over the past century, foot length and width have increased. (NIH, 1997)
  • Ancient Chinese beauty traditions included foot binding to signify beauty and status. (Britannica, 2025)
  • As a general rule, for women, big feet are considered less attractive. Perhaps that’s why 88% of women wear shoes that are too small. (Ryortho, 2016)
  • I am a fan of tattoos but have none on my feet, even though they are popular. For one thing, they can be more painful due to the lack of fat and abundance of bones. (Healthline, 2024) Add to that the abundance of nerves. And add to that the fact that they tend to need more maintenance because of the wear and tear on the feet.

Feet Need (Good) Shoes

For decades my shoe concerns were fashion and appropriate professional attire, including matching accessories. Now my focus is comfort and convenience, meaning Teva sandals in summer and Merrill slides during sock weather. No high heels!

Only about 1% of people have feet that are the same size. (SATRA, 2018) (My right foot is bigger than my left.) Therefore, always try on both shoes when shopping.

Feet can expand up to half a shoe size throughout the day (Brightwell Clinic, 2023), so buy shoes at the end of a shopping trip.

The Smithsonian Museum houses more than twenty pairs of famous shoes. The collection includes the world’s most famous pair of shoes, the Ruby Slippers of “The Wizard of Oz.” Their exhibits also include shoes worn by LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Willie Mays, Raven Beak, and Phyllis Diller, among others.

Or maybe shoes are sometimes optional. Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian marathon runner, famously won the 1960 Olympic gold without shoes.

Fun Feet Facts

And a few fun (?) facts that have nothing to do with my feet.

  • Toe wrestling is a competitive sport in the UK. (BBC, 2024) Really!
  • Podophobia is the fear of feet—yes, it’s real! (Cleveland Clinic, 2022)
  • Diabetes can lead to serious foot issues due to reduced circulation. (ADA, 2023)
  • Foot health can reveal overall health issues, including heart and nerve conditions. (APMA, 2007)
  • Each foot has 26 bones, totaling 52 bones in both feet—about 25% of all the bones in the body. (KURU, 2020) The foot has 33 joints and 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
  • The average American takes 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day—but recommendations say to take more. I count my steps daily, happy to get over 4K.
  • Is your second toe longer than your big toe? This is called Morton’s toe. Not usually associated with health risks, it can increase the chances of foot calluses.
  • Forensic investigators may use footprints, shoe prints, and gait clues to support identification.

Feet in Popular Parlance

The Golden Foot – a football/soccer award for athletic prowess
  • The phrase “put your foot in your mouth” is a useful phrase, though sadly not a useful life skill
  • “Footsie” describes touching feet under a table, usually in a teasing or flirtatious way
  • “Foot of the mountain” refers to the base (The word foot is often used to describe the lower part of something.)
  • Footloose
  • Foot the bill
  • Two left feet
  • Put one’s best foot forward
  • Caught on the left foot or the back foot
  • Stand on your own two feet
  • To find your feet: to get used to a new situation; to get accustomed to it
  • To get off on the right foot: to begin well
    • The opposite = to get off on the wrong foot: to begin poorly/negatively
  • To get your feet wet: to start doing something slowly and in a simple way to get used to it
  • To get your foot in the door: to take the first step towards a goal to make something happen (in a company or in a career field)
  • To get back on one’s feet (recover)

Bottom Line: Pay attention to your feet.

ON SKULLS: SO MUCH MORE THAN HALLOWEEN

Posted on by vlaw759

When I mentioned this topic to a friend, she said, “I’m very fond of mine. I use it every day!” So do we all, though usually unthinkingly. But there it is, containing and protecting our brains.

I dare to assert that this function—containing and protecting the brain—is the original and primary function of skulls. Of course this function isn’t absolute; think war wounds, football, and boxing, for example.

Skull Functions

The skull serves several important functions beyond protecting the brain.

The skull provides a framework for the face, holding eyes, nose, and mouth in place.

By fixing the distance between the eyes, the skull helps humans see in 3D (stereoscopic vision). It also helps ears work together to figure out where sounds are coming from.

The 22 skull bones include the only moveable bone in the body—the jawbone. This bone (the mandible) allows us to open and close our mouths to eat, speak, and express emotions.

Recent research has indicated that the skull is able to expand. It accommodates changes in this internal volume of brain, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Identifying Skulls

Skulls are useful to others besides the “wearer.”

A skull can identify many things about a person. Human skulls look different depending on whether they are male or female, what part of the world they come from (i.e., racial heritage), and age. A trained artist, anatomist, or anthropologist can tell the difference in a single glance.

Forensic scientists and archaeologists often use the skull to estimate a person’s age at the time of death. They examine the sutures, bone density, and other characteristics.

Differences in skull shapes and sizes can be attributed to genetics, ethnicity, and individual variations. Anthropologists study these differences to learn about human evolution and migration patterns.

Skull Symbolism

The most common symbolic use is as a representation of death. A skull can also serve as a warning of various threats or to contrast the vanity of earthly pleasures with mortality. In literature, skulls often symbolize despair and rough ironic humor (think Hamlet). They often represent strength and courage.

“Jeff Davis Reaping the Harvest”. US Civil War editorial cartoon shows Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate states, reaping stalks with skulls on them. ~Harper’s Weekly, 1861
  • A common visual motif is a serpent in a skull, making its way through an eye socket. This often symbolizes knowledge persisting after death or a serpent knowing secrets.
  • In Elizabethan England, the Death’s-Head Skull, usually without the lower jawbone, was symbolic of bawds, rakes, sexual adventurers and prostitutes. The term Death’s-Head was actually slang for such people, and they often wore half-skull rings to advertise, either professionally or otherwise.
  • In Mesoamerican architecture, stacks of skulls (real or sculpted) represented the result of human sacrifices.
  • The pirate death’s-head epitomizes the pirates’ ruthlessness and despair.
  • Depictions of some Hindu gods include skulls. For example, Shiva often carries a skull or wears a necklace of skulls. Hindu scripture describes the Goddess Chamunda wearing a garland of severed heads or skulls. Several Hindu temples include sculptures of skulls and Goddess Chamunda.
  • When tattooed on the forearm, its apotropaic power is thought to help an outlaw biker cheat death. Or that may simply be bikers in general.

Skulls for Victory and Revenge

  • The Lombardy king Alboin wore a skull as a trophy on his belt. It was a constant grim triumph over his old enemy.
  • In the same way, a skull is a warning when it decorates the palisade of a city, or deteriorates on a pike at a Traitor’s Gate.
  • After the Battle of Ćegar in 1809, the conquering Ottoman army built the Skull Tower. They used the skulls of Serbian rebels as building material.
  • FYI: there is no skull in a shrunken head. A shrunken head is a severed and specially prepared human head with the skull removed – many times smaller than its original size – that is used for trophy, ritual, trade, or other purposes.

Skull Vessels

For a variety of reasons, someone might make a cup or eating from an inverted human skull, after cutting it away from the rest of the skull. Careful observation of skulls serving as vessels can identify cut-marks from flesh removal and working to produce a regular lip.

Bulgarian Khan Krum the Fearsome feasts with his nobles as a servant (right) brings the skull of Nikephoros I, fashioned into a drinking cup, full of wine.

The use of a human skull as a drinking cup in ritual use or as a trophy is reported in numerous sources throughout history and among various peoples, both in Asia and Europe. What follows are just a few examples.

Portrait of Jnanatapa surrounded by lamas and mahasiddhas, drinking from a skull cup, Eastern Tibet
  • The oldest directly dated skull cup is from 12,750 BCE and comes from Gough’s Cave, Somerset, England.
  • Ammianus and Livy both mentioned the Scythian practice of drinking the blood of slain (sacrificial) enemies out of a skull.
  • The Lombard king Albion mentioned above drank from the skull of his old enemy that he wore on his belt.
  • People of the Magdalenian culture, spanning around 23,000–13,500 years ago, produced skull cups, associated with cannibalistic practices.
  • According to legend, after the Royal Navy killed and beheaded Blackbeard the pirate in 1718, they turned his skull into a drinking cup.
  • In 19th-century, the poet Lord Byron used a skull his gardener had found as a drinking vessel. According to Wikipedia, “Byron even wrote a darkly witty drinking poem as if inscribed upon it, ‘Lines Inscribed upon a Cup Formed from a Skull’. The cup, filled with claret, was passed around ‘in imitation of the Goths of old’, among the Order of the Skull that Byron founded at Newstead, ‘whilst many a grim joke was cut at its expense’, Byron recalled to Thomas Medwin.”
  • In 1510, Shah Ismail I defeated and slew Muhammad Shaybani in battle. He then had his enemy’s skull coated in gold and made into a jeweled drinking goblet.
  • In Japan, there is an anecdote that Oda Nobunaga, a famous feudal lord from the Sengoku period, drank sake from the skulls of defeated enemy warlords.
  • After killing Svyatoslav I of Kiev, Pecheneg Khan Kurya (in 972 BCE) had the skull made into a chalice. Various sources report that Kurya and his wife drank from the skull and prayed for a son as brave as the deceased Rus warlord. Maybe this was a compliment to Sviatoslav!

Musical Skulls

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has a lyre from Central Africa, 19th century, made from a human skull, antelope horn, skin, gut, and hair.
  • Tibetan skull drums (damaru) were used in Tibet in connection with meditation traditions focused on the impermanence of life and material existence.
  • A double-headed drum fashioned from the tops of two human skulls joined at their apexes has been a part of the standard ritual paraphernalia for practitioners of the later forms of Tantric Buddhism since the time of their rise in India.
  • Skulls of warriors slain in battle were once hung on Ashanti (Asante) royal drums in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Fashionable Skulls

Skulls are currently in fashion, especially since the first decade of the twenty-first century.

  • Skulls appear on bags and clothing.
  • Skull jewelry. I wear skull jewelry—earrings, pendants, rings, and bracelets—every day in October, and periodically throughout the year.
  • Various decorative items, such as carved mineral skulls.
  • For those so inclined, you can purchase any of dozens of styles of glasses, mugs, tankards, and goblets shaped like skulls—some of which actually look like skulls.
  • Into house plants? Dozens of flowerpots and planters are available.

Bottom Line: When you think skulls, think beyond October!

WITCHES

Posted on by vlaw759

Halloween is nearly upon us, and witches seem to be everywhere, from costumes for trick-or-treating and Halloween parties to yard displays. But why? Granted, popular society associates Halloween with all sorts of horrific, scary things: ghouls, ghosts, skeletons, death… Witches are lumped in with them. But really, what is a witch?

Witchy History

The English word witch—from the Old English wiċċe, rooted in European folklore and superstition—means a practitioner of witchcraft, magic or sorcery. Associated with malevolent magic, those accused of witchcraft were the target of witch-hunts. Consider the Salem witch trials.

In the modern era, the term has taken on different meanings. (In current colloquial English, witch typically refers to women, with the male equivalent being warlock or wizard.) Contemporary dictionaries currently distinguish five meanings of the noun witch:

  • A person (especially a woman) credited with malignant supernatural powers
  • A practitioner of neo-pagan tradition or religion (such as Wicca)
    • In this instance, the word Witch is typically capitalized, much like Catholic or Buddhist would be capitalized.
  • A mean or ugly old woman
  • A hag or crone
  • A charming or alluring girl or woman
    • This figurative use—as in literature—began in the 18th century.

Wicca is the largest of the modern Pagan, or Neo-Pagan, religions. Its followers, who are called Wiccans, typically identify as witches and draw inspiration largely from the pre-Christian religions of Europe. Influenced by earlier forms of Western esotericism, Wicca publicly emerged in England during the 1950s. At that time most Wiccans were members of initiatory groups called covens, although by the early 21st century most followers were instead operating as individuals. Today, Wiccans are mostly in English-speaking Western countries. Followers often use the pentagram, or five-pointed star, as the main symbol of their religion. In neopagan religions such as Wicca the term Witch has been adopted as a label for adherents of all genders.

“Wicca’s rapid spread through the United States during the 1960s and ’70s was part of the broader countercultural zeitgeist, and many of those Americans joining Wicca were also influenced by the new social movements of the period. Informed by second-wave feminism, Dianic Wicca was formed in 1971 by Hungarian émigré Zsuzsanna Budapest as a women’s tradition placing central focus on the goddess. Drawing on the gay rights movement, the Minoan Brotherhood was established in 1977 by Eddie Buczynski as a Wiccan tradition for gay and bisexual men. Growing environmentalist sentiment also had an impact on Wicca, which by the 1970s was increasingly presenting itself as a “ nature religion.” Radical left-wing politics came to the fore in the work of Starhawk), an American practitioner who helped establish the Reclaiming tradition in San Francisco and wrote an influential book, The Spiral Dance (1979). Although many of Wicca’s early proponents espoused conservative and right-wing views, by the close of the 20th century the Wiccan community had more people with progressive and left-leaning opinions.” (Encyclopedia Britannica)

from Encyclopedia Britannica

It is estimated that there could be around 1.5 million witches in the U.S. (This according to Helen Berger, of Brandeis University, 2021 data.)

Witches Today

Wicca and Witchcraft are part of the larger contemporary pagan movement, which includes druids and heathens among others. All these spiritual paths, as pagans refer to them, base their practices on pre-Christian religions and cultures.

Berger points out that not all witches consider themselves Wiccans. Based on her most recent survey data, approximately 800,000 Americans are Wiccans. Increasing numbers have self-identified as Wiccan in surveys. The growth of such groups as those on TikTok, suggest that the religion is continuing to grow.

Wicca differs from more mainstream religions, such as Christianity, in multiple ways.

Today most Wiccans practice alone and are free to develop their own unique practice.

According to Berger, most Wiccans practice magic, to heal themselves and others or to find a new home or job, among other things, and emphasize that magic must not cause harm. “Magic is viewed as changing the practitioners as much as their circumstances, encouraging adherents to pursue self-growth and self-empowerment.”

Bottom Line: For hundreds of thousands of practitioners, Witch has been an identity that has nothing to do with Halloween.

Beautiful Bones

Posted on by vlaw759

“Beautiful Bones” was previously published (without illustrations) in Connecticut Review, Vol XXXIII, No.2. Fall 2011, 115-119.

Muriel slams the car door, ducks her head, and scrinches her eyes nearly shut behind wraparound sunglasses. Offshore winds whip the ocean to froth. Wind-driven sand stings every inch of exposed skin. It’s the tail end of the hurricane season, but this one seems to be staying offshore. Charlie would never come to their Outer Banks house this late in the fall, but Muriel revels in it. Few owners or renters are in residence. No one was on the wind-scoured beach that morning, and few cars creep along Route 12. The Sandpiper Day Spa is a welcome oasis.

In the changing room, Muriel shakes sand from her blond curls. Charlie never allowed anything as frivolous—or as expensive—as a massage unless the indulgence was his idea, but she has one every month now. Catching sight of her reflection in the full-length mirror, she mutters, “One of these days, I need to buckle down and lose twenty-five pounds.” Charlie always said she had beautiful cheekbones, had complimented her dainty hands and feet. But Charlie’s dead, and the rest of her bones could do with a little less padding. She shrugs one shoulder and belts the thick terry robe around her naked body.

An attendant shows her into the dim, hushed waiting room where a tabletop fountain burbles, and lemon slices float in a pitcher of ice water dappled with condensation. The Sandpiper is on the sound side, and the wide windows frame a surprisingly tranquil view of waving grasses edging the sheltered patio.

“Have a seat. Woodrow will be with you soon.”

“Woodrow? My appointment is with Amy.”

The attendant purses her lips. “Oh, dear. Did no one call you? Amy’s road is flooded, so she couldn’t get in. Woodrow is taking her clients today. Is that a problem?”

Muriel has never had a male massage therapist. She gnaws her lower lip and shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “No. No, of course not.” Alone with the view, Muriel tells herself it’s no big deal—that he’s a professional, like a doctor or a nurse.

***

Muriel lies face down on the massage table, the sheet draped across her legs and buttocks. Woodrow’s massive hands work the muscles of her upper back, slick with scented oil. His hands are strong but not rough. She visualizes his hands, dark against her skin. If Charlie had ever allowed a massage, it certainly wouldn’t have been with Woodrow. Woodrow is mixed-race, and she can’t identify the mix. Not being able to categorize him makes her anxious.

Standing at her head, Woodrow slides both hands down her back, his thumbs rippling along the bumps of her spine. He repeats the stroke using the heels of his hands, and again using his forearms. Muriel feels that, somehow, Woodrow is touching her very soul. When he leans on his forearms, his loose shirt brushes her hair. Muriel realizes how much of his body hovers over hers and forgets to breathe. Using his palms and fingers as before, each stroke is longer than the last until his hands are completely under the edge of the sheet, kneading her buttocks—never quite making a move that is clearly inappropriate.

“Relax,” he says. “You’re tensing up.”

Muriel tries to relax as he moves to the foot of the table. He draws her right leg toward him and lifts the sheet off that side, tucking it between her legs. Amy never exposed so much at once—a wide strip of bare flesh from shoulder to toe. Half draped. A vision of cemetery art comes unbidden, the half-draped urn that symbolizes sorrow and mourning slipping away—not that she ever mourned Charlie. The friends who thought they had such a perfect marriage would be shocked. But that was all surface. Who could mourn the freedom that came with the passing of total control? If she felt sorrowful at all, it would be for the children they never had. Tears sting her eyes, but she reminds herself that at least children never suffered. She still blesses the day the fertility specialist told them that it was Charlie’s failure, not hers—though no one used that label, of course.

A breath of cool air wafts along the strip of exposed flesh. Can so much nakedness be quite proper? She wants to protest, to ask for more coverage, but can’t find acceptable words. She doesn’t want him to think it’s because he isn’t white. Blood suffuses her face and she wonders whether her back is blushing, and if it is, whether he can see it in the dim light. Woodrow kneads her calf and pushes her foot toward her buttock until the stretch in her quadricep begins to burn. She’s about to say “Enough” when he releases the pressure. He stretches her other quad, then grasps both ankles and shakes her legs. Her thighs jiggle like Jell-O, and she silently wills him to stop. He pulls the sheet across her lower legs and slides—what? his forearm again?—up her back, and draws something—a hot stone?—down her spine. The oil is warm. After several minutes he says, “Tell me if this is too hot,” and wipes her back with a steamy towel. As he rubs her arms and neck, Muriel thinks of a parent scrubbing a toddler in the bath. Just when she thinks this segment is done, something gritty circles gently over her flesh. She says, “I didn’t schedule exfoliation.”

Woodrow says, “I always include a light buff. Underneath all that dead skin, there’s a whole new you.” Muriel thinks she hears a smile in his voice.

The sanding thing clicks onto the side table and suddenly something soft caresses her torso. It feels like satin, fur, and feathers. Is he dusting her with powder? Not wanting to focus on the sensuality, she says, “How long have you been a massage therapist?”

“I finished training five years ago.” He pulls her hand up behind her shoulder blade and kneads the muscle under her scapula. Not moves she’s had before.

“How did you come to be a massage therapist?”

“I was career military. Twenty years as a Green Beret. After that, I wanted to do something good with my hands for a change.” He lifts the sheet high enough to hide his face and invites Muriel to turn face up. “Just tell me when you’re settled.” She rolls over, hands covering her breasts, wondering whether he peeked.

Woodrow drapes the sheet across her body and Muriel adjusts it over her breasts. She looks at Woodrow through slitted lids. He’s wearing baby blue scrubs that don’t disguise his heavily muscled body. She closes her eyes against the intimacy and tries to figure how old he must be. If he went in at eighteen, and got out at thirty-eight, spent a year in school and that was five years ago… About her age. Why does it matter? “It must have been a real culture shock—going from the military to massage.”

He manipulates her foot, pressing his thumbs into her instep, and she feels it up her spine. “It wasn’t that sudden. I stayed in San Diego for a while. Knocked around a little, trying to decide what to do. I’ve always been good with my hands—always gave my mom foot rubs, gave my girlfriends back rubs. It was my girlfriend at the time who put me onto massage.” He moves to the side of the table.

All this movement is disconcerting. Amy always started at her head and ended with her feet—none of this back-and-forth stuff. Woodrow rests Muriel’s forearm on his shoulder and massages her upper arm, her shoulder, and her pecs in long, smooth strokes. Her fingertips brush his short beard—surprisingly soft. Touching his beard feels too personal. Who is he? Part black, part Asian. Chinese? Vietnamese? She doesn’t know. His smooth bass has a lilting undertone. Maybe he has ties to the Caribbean? Heat washes over her. It shouldn’t matter. “So did your girlfriend come back east with you?”

“No. She died.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago—and very peaceful.” Woodrow stands behind her head, his fingers buried in her hair, slowly massaging her scalp. He tugs her earlobes. He works his thumbs into her shoulders, fingers curled loosely around her throat.

Muriel says, “I once had a boyfriend in the Marines. He said he could kill someone silently by crushing their larynx.”

Woodrow chuckles. “Oh, yeah. Crushing the ice-cream cone. Or you could apply just a little pressure here.” His fingers brush the side of her neck, and linger. “Apply pressure to the carotid for thirteen seconds and you can make somebody unconscious—and do whatever you want.” He presses his fingertips into her neck and she feels her pulse throb. He must feel it, too. Does he notice that her heart is racing? He gives no sign. “A little longer, and you’re dead.” He shifts his fingers to the base of her skull and lifts. Muriel wonders how easy it would be to snap someone’s neck. Woodrow must know. She’s never felt so vulnerable. Would anyone hear her if she screamed? Woodrow says, “In some situations a silent killing is—preferable.” Muriel imagines a trapdoor under the massage bed, imagines Woodrow killing her silently and her body dropping unnoticed into the sound.

When the session is over, Woodrow says, “Take your time getting dressed. Drink lots of nonalcoholic beverages for the rest of the day. And you really need to relax. I’m leaving an herbal tea bag here by your clothes. Try it before you go to bed tonight. You’ll sleep like the dead.”

In the shower, water coursing down her body, Muriel feels exposed, as though Woodrow somehow touched her inner self. That thought is so upsetting that her hands shake and she drops the soap three times. Is it her imagination, or is her flesh loose on her bones?

She feels so defensive that she over-tips outrageously and compliments Woodrow effusively to the receptionist on her way out.

***

Alone with the evening, wind still raging, Muriel obsesses about her massage—tries to dissect her discomfort and chides herself for it. Remembering Woodrow’s hands on her body, she feels a flutter deep in her belly. Is that what a baby’s first kick would have felt like?

She turns on the TV news. Sandwiched between reports on the progress of the offshore hurricane is a story about women found dead in their homes of mysterious causes, details at eleven o’clock. “I don’t think so,” she mutters, and flips to a classic movie channel.

Muriel retrieves the tea bag Woodrow gave her. It’s square, not like most commercial ones, and it has no string attached. She smells it. Herby and sweet and musty. What has he given her? She thinks of drugs that could be delivered in a paper packet—LSD, rohypnol, ketamine, scopolamine, and any number of poisons—drugs that routinely show up in TV crime dramas. She shivers, and tells herself not to be a ninny. Why would he drug her? She tamps down her paranoia and brews a cup of tea. She sniffs the pale gold brew. It smells of hibiscus and honey. She stares into the depths of the cup, mesmerized, as the heat evaporates. Eventually she shakes off her lethargy, gulps down the tepid liquid, and falls into bed, thinking how blessedly bigger it feels now that Charlie is gone. She curls into the fetal position, cradling no bruised limbs. Drifting toward sleep, her body is hypersensitive. She hears her heartbeat, feels the sheet resting lightly on her flesh, notices a slight tingling in her left arm and hand. Definitely alive. Nothing to be anxious about. Remembering the feel of Woodrow’s hands on her body, she sinks into oblivion.

***

In the gray predawn, she wakes from a nightmare in which some of her teeth crumbled away, and some fell out whole. The dream felt so real that she probes her teeth with her tongue, explores her mouth with her fingers. Her teeth are definitely there, but they feel strange. She stumbles into the bathroom and leans toward the mirror. Yes, all of her teeth are still there—though they look bigger than she remembers. In the dim glow of the nightlight, lips stretched to reveal her teeth, she notices the map of blue veins on her chest. As she watches, the blue highways become more distinct. Her skin thins and thins until it is no longer there. When she looks again at her face, she sees her skull.

An image appears behind hers, bones luminous in the dim light. The skeleton is Woodrow. She is not surprised by his presence—or his appearance—only by her recognition of him. One bony finger glides down the side of her neck and across her shoulder, its touch smooth and cool as ivory. She feels his longing, his wish to be joined. As his hands pass over Muriel, her skin and muscles dissolve, melting into the dark. He says, “Do you want to be clothed again in flesh? I could do that.”

Muriel stares at their beautiful bones. She says, “It isn’t about the surface.”

The End

HOW WE COOK

Posted on by vlaw759

Six editors (all men) passed on Peg Bracken’s manuscript, but ultimately, The I HATE TO COOK Book was published in 1960, and sold over 3 million copies. (For comparison: this was about the same as Craig Clayborne’s The New York Times Cookbook and twice as many as Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, both published in 1961.)

Clearly, Bracken’s humorous guide to spending less time on food prep struck a cord with home cooks.

My thesis is that the entire evolution of how we cook has trended in that direction: less time for food prep.

STOVES

My granny had a cast iron cook stove until the mid-1950s. She started by lighting wood in the fire box at one end of the stove body. Moving pots from burners closer to the firebox to those farther away adjusted the heat. She controlled oven temperature by determining how long she could hold her hand in the oven.

This was certainly old-fashioned, but she was poor, living on a hard-scrabble farm in the hills of eastern Kentucky. Saugus Ironworks manufactured the first cast-iron stove in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1642. By the 18th century, manufacturers were making cast iron stoves in quantity in the United States. Their use became widespread in the early 19th century.

The first gas stoves were developed in the 1820s, in a factory established in England in 1836. These stoves offered adjustable and convenient cooking compared to solid fuels. A cook could turn the gas flame to the desired heat level immediately. Turning off the flame also immediately extinguishes the heat. However, the exposed gas flame posed more of a fire hazard than other stoves. They may also leak carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde, even when turned off.

Introduced in the early 20th century, electric stoves provided a safer and more efficient alternative to gas. Later in her life, my granny had an electric stove. She enjoyed the precision of temperature, especially for baking.

Induction cooktops use electromagnetic fields to heat pots and pans directly. Among stove bells and whistles: timers, preheat signal, convection baking, and broiling. Today, a home cook can use a Frigidaire 30″ Electric Range with Air Fry, with a convection oven and five cooking elements. My granny wouldn’t have to use her hand to determine the temperature!

Perhaps the biggest time-saver is not having to build a cooking fire.

REFRIGERATORS

The first appliance that sort of looked like a refrigerator was an icebox. Before iceboxes, people used ice houses and evaporative cooling methods like zeer pots to preserve food. (A zeer pot is a low-cost, evaporative cooling device made of two nested unglazed clay pots with wet sand between them, used to preserve food in hot, dry climates without electricity.)

The only icebox I ever saw personally was wooden, with metal fittings. The top compartment held the ice on a metal tray. The cool air descended to cool the food in the box below. An ice man delivered huge blocks of ice on a set schedule, and “ice cubes” were had by chipping off the block with an ice pick.

Electric refrigerators became common in households starting in the late 1920s and early 1930s. While Fred W. Wolf Jr. invented the first electric refrigerator for home use in 1913, widespread adoption began after General Electric introduced the “Monitor-Top” refrigerator in 1927, which was more affordable and practical for average homes. By the mid-1930s, electric refrigerators had largely replaced iceboxes in many American and European households, becoming a standard appliance in middle-class homes by the 1940s. These refrigerators were smaller than today. The cooling unit was at the top, and it had enough freezing space for a couple of ice cube trays.

Today one can choose refrigerators with freezers top, bottom, or side-by-side. Owners can adjust freezer and refrigerator temperatures separately. They can dispense filtered water and ice in various forms.

The biggest time-saving factor from refrigerators comes from the handy location in the kitchen, serving iced drinks, and the availability of frozen foods.

Before refrigerators, preservation techniques included salt curing, smoking, and drying.

SMALL APPLIANCES

Early toasters had pull-down doors on each side of the heating unit. Two pieces of bread—one per side—were toasted on the side facing the heating element. When the user opened the doors, the bread would flip, exposing the untoasted side. Closing the doors again started the process to toast the second side. These required monitoring, for there was no timer or automatic turn off.

Then there were pop-up toasters, toasting both sides at once, with heat controls for darkness, sometimes with four slots.

Today, a home cook can use toaster ovens, which I assume need no description, or the toast function in air fryers. They toast faster, take many slices, and turn off automatically.

Mixing stuff up started with a fork or spoon, evolved to a whisk which, with patience, can actually whip cream or egg whites into soft peaks. Hand-held egg beaters (1850s) made that process much faster, and hand-held electric mixers were/are even faster. Counter-top mixers (such as KitchenAid) operate without the cook holding the mixing element, and can even knead bread.

Blenders were introduced in 1922 and food processors in 1946, though their use in home kitchens took time to catch on. Although meat grinders (1840s) streamlined the mincing process, food processors in particular relieved the home cook of clamping a meat grinder to the counter or tabletop and hand grinding.

Making coffee has gone from boiling grounds in a pot of water and waiting for the grounds to settle to using a percolator, with a basket holding grounds at the top where boiling water pours through them. Today coffee makers typically use filters for the grounds and collect the coffee in a carafe. Fancy options can keep it hot, turn off automatically, or even turn on or off at a pre-selected time.

Although some people prefer to grind their own coffee beans, pre-ground beans are readily available.

And now one can make a single cup of coffee in a device such as Keurig using individually chosen pods, which can be flavored. And let’s not forget instant coffee, just add water, though coffee lovers usually prefer not to.

It is possible to make tea the same way, but do keep a carafe dedicated to tea to avoid contamination by lingering coffee flavors. Modern tea aficionados can use a variety of automatic devices, with magnetic tea baskets, calibrated brewing temperatures, or warming surfaces. The quick and easy alternative: teabag and microwaved water.

The mighty microwave was invented in 1945 by Percy Spencer, an engineer with the Raytheon Company. Microwaves became common in households during the 1970s and 1980s as prices fell and their use spread globally. And as everybody must know, it cooks faster than stovetops or ovens.

COOKWARE

Cast iron cookware was first introduced around 220 CE in China during the Han Dynasty. During the Medieval period (500 – 1500 ) cast iron cookware first appeared in Europe, and became essential for slow-cooking stews and soups. It was popular from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, peaking in the first half of the 20th century before declining in the 1960s and 1970s.

I have cast iron skillets and a griddle from a great-grandmother, both grandmothers, and my mother! I have added a chicken fryer and stew pot to my inherited collection. Cast iron is great for heat retention, durability, ability to maintain high temperatures for long durations, and non-stick potential. But it is heavy!

Copper pots and pans became popular among European chefs for their even heat distribution. Copper cookware became popular as a status symbol among Europe’s wealthy elite in the 18th century and remained prominent through the 19th century.

The invention of Teflon-coated pans (1960s) made cooking and cleaning easier.

Pressure cookers were an early effort to shorten cooking times. The basic concept was invented in 1679! The modern pressure cooker, as we know it today, became widely popular in the mid-20th century with brands like Presto.

And then slow cookers were introduced. They gained popularity in the U.S. during the 1970s, with sales peaking around this time. This countertop electrical cooking appliance simmers food at a lower temperature than other cooking methods. Dishes like pot roasts and stews can cook for many hours without requiring attendance, unlike with a boiling method. Its primary advantage is allowing the cook to complete prep according to their own convenience and preference.

CONVENIENCE FOODS

I contend that the most basic convenience foods are frozen and canned products. Many canned foods are “heat and serve,” or even ready to eat. Grocery stores carry a gazillion (by actual count) prepared foods, from cupcakes and bread to quiche and potato salad, already peeled carrots, cut melon and pineapple, etc., etc., etc.

One can order prepared dishes—or meals—from restaurants and have them delivered to the door. And for those who want a fresh, homemade meal, there are services such as HelloFresh: the ordered meal ingredients come proportioned and ready to cook, with all seasonings, and recipes for the preparation.

And now one can use a service such as Tovala, a meal delivery service paired with a smart oven that cooks chef-crafted, fresh meals in under 20 minutes using QR code scanning or pre-programmed cycles.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY

Before 3000 BCE, the earliest food prep method, using open flames to roast meat and vegetables on sticks or in pits, required constant attention.

People roasted large animals on spits turned by hand or animal tread mills, a common method in Medieval feasts.

Around 10,000 BCE, humans began using clay pots for boiling and stewing, marking a shift to more controlled heat and less constant attention.

Archaeological research dates the use of earthen ovens for underground cooking to approximately 10,000 years ago. Earth ovens (e.g., Polynesian umu or Native American pit baking) involved cooking food in underground pits with heated stones. The Egyptians used early ovens (around 2500 BCE) for baking bread, a staple of their diet.

The Romans created early versions of stoves. These stoves were brick or iron structures, knee-high, fired by wood or charcoal through a front hole, with pots placed over or hung into holes at the top.

The earliest fireplaces (as we think of them today) were flat to the floor, used for both heating and cooking. The Romans introduced raised hearths, making cooking more convenient (and heating less dirty).

Cast iron “arms” (chimney cranes) were built into fireplace walls, suspending cooking pots over flames, allowing for better heat control, and swinging out to fill or serve. Many included spits for roasting chunks of meat and small animals such as rabbits or chickens.

AND HERE WE ARE

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal (9/22/26) reported, “When 4:00 p.m. rolls around on any given day, about 80% of Americans still don’t know what they will have for dinner.” Many families turn to ready-to-cook food and meal delivery services, or grazing on things like cheese and crackers, nuts, etc.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. The I Hate to Housekeep Book (Peg Bracken, 1962) has a chapter titled “Dinner Will Be Ready As Soon As I Decide What We’re Having.” (It demonstrates a touching reliance on eggs.)

According to the US Labor Department, women spend an average of 55 minutes per day on food preparation AND cleanup; men, 31 minutes.

Bottom Line: Peg Bracken got it right: apparently, most people hate to cook.

NAILED IT: FINGERS AND TOES

Posted on by vlaw759

Only primates have true finger- and toenails. We and our cousins have several uses for nails.

Fingernails are for protecting not only the fingertips but also the surrounding soft tissue from any external injuries.

Nails help enhance the sensitivity of fingertips by acting as a counterforce when pressed against something, improving the sense of touch.

Fingernails are much involved in fine motor skills.

Nail Facts

But for human primates, nails can be so much more!

by Dusan Rajic

Damaged or discolored nails can affect confidence and self-image in social or professional settings.

Certain cultures, social classes, or professions (e.g., models, musicians, corporate jobs) may expect well-manicured hands.

The global nail care industry is valued at about $26–27 billion in 2026, with the US market around $5.3 billion (roughly 79% of North America).

People typically spend about $20–$55 for a basic manicure and $25–$65 for a gel or standard full set, with premium services like acrylics, dips, or designs ranging from $25–$120+—overall, many nail services fall within roughly $15–$100+ depending on service, location, and add-ons.

In ancient Egypt, a person’s nail color indicated their social status. Noblemen wore black, and common men wore green. The highest rank, a noble lady, was symbolized by red fingernails. No wonder red manicures are so iconic!

Nail polish originated in China as early as 3000 BC. The ingredients? Egg whites, gelatin, vegetable dyes and beeswax.

Ching Dynasty fingernail protectors

Painting designs and pictures onto our fingernails isn’t something new and trendy. It was a familiar practice with the Incas, many of whom had eagle designs on their fingernails.

Miscellaneous Tidbits Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Just like hair, nails are composed of a protein called keratin, which is also found in animal hooves and horns. And this explains why specialized supplements are so often—usually—labeled as for hair and nail strengthening. Keratin is a protein made of dead cells, which is why cutting your fingernails and hair doesn’t hurt.

Typing with your fingernails will actually stimulate their growth.

Just like fingerprints, the pattern of ridges and grooves on your nails is unique to you.

Nails can’t “breathe” or sweat. Along with lips and ears, they are the only parts of the body that don’t sweat. (For more on sweat, see my blog).

While nails themselves don’t breathe like skin, the nail bed (the skin underneath the nail) does receive oxygen and nutrients through blood vessels. Medical providers can use the appearance of these blood vessels to assess dehydration and blood flow.

Our fingernails have no feeling. Zero. Zilch. Nor do our toenails.

Nails on a chalkboard make you cringe? There’s a reason for that. The noise hits a frequency that’s naturally amplified by the shape of our ear canals.

Our cuticles aren’t just for decoration. They serve a purpose! The cuticle seals moisture and environmental germs out of the body. This is why it’s important not to pick at your cuticles.

Are you a nail biter? There’s a name for that. Nail biting is known as Onychophagia. And stop it!

Feeling stressed out? It can show in your fingernails. Stress can cause your fingernails to weaken as nutrients are spread elsewhere in the body.

Fingernails need blood to survive. Have you ever wondered why your fingernail falls off after an injury? Our nail plates need blood flow, nutrients and oxygen to grow normally.  An injury can disrupt the delicate connections that provide the nutrition and can stop your fingernail from growing.

Record Nails

According to the  Guinness World Records , the longest fingernails on a pair of human hands belong to Diana Armstrong (USA), with a total length of 42 ft 10.5 in.

The longest fingernails ever recorded on a single hand belonged to Shridhar Chillal from India, whose nails on his left hand totaled 9.1 meters (30 feet) after he stopped cutting them for 66 years!

Growth

  • The nails on your writing hand grow up to 25% faster than those on your non-dominant hand due to increased blood flow and usage. And I didn’t know to include this in my blog on body asymmetry!
  • Fingernails grow about three times faster than toenails. On average, fingernails grow about 3 millimeters per month, while toenails grow about 1 millimeter per month.
  • Cutting nails doesn’t affect their growth. They grow from the base, so cutting or filing them doesn’t change how fast they grow.
  • Some studies suggest that nails grow slightly faster in warmer months, possibly due to increased blood circulation.
  • Men’s fingernails grow faster than women’s.
  • But, women’s fingernails do grow faster during pregnancy due to hormones.
  • Your thumbnail grows the slowest.
  • Your middle fingernail grows faster than your other fingers.
  • Fingernail growth slows down as we age.
  • Contrary to the popular “Moon Myth,” nails and hair do not continue to grow after death. The appearance of growth is due to the skin receding as the body dehydrates.

If you are just an info junky, ready for trivial pursuit type questions, consider stopping here. If you want to get more into the science and health issues, keep reading!

Healthy (and Unhealthy) Nails

Given how much we are willing to invest in nails (see above), what are the DYI options? For example, for weak or brittle nails?

Brittle nails can result from:

Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., lack of biotin, iron, zinc, or vitamins A, C, and E)

Excessive moisture exposure (e.g., frequent hand washing, dishwashing, or swimming)

Chemical damage (e.g., from nail polish removers, detergents, or harsh cleaning products)

Medical conditions (e.g., thyroid disorders, fungal infections, or psoriasis)

Aging (nails naturally become more brittle with age)

Trauma or repetitive stress (e.g., typing, manicures, or nail biting)

You Might Consider Improving Your Diet

Biotin (Vitamin B7): Supports keratin production. Found in eggs, nuts, seeds, and sweet potatoes. Studies suggest 2.5–5 mg/day can improve nail thickness.

Iron: Essential for nail health. Include spinach, lentils, red meat, and fortified cereals. Low iron can lead to spoon-shaped or brittle nails.

Zinc: Supports nail growth. Found in oysters, pumpkin seeds, and whole grains.

Protein: Nails are made of keratin, a protein. Include lean meats, beans, and dairy.

Vitamin E: Acts as an antioxidant. Found in almonds, avocados, and sunflower seeds.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Help reduce inflammation. Found in fatty fish (salmon, mackerel) and flaxseeds.

Hydrate and Protect

Moisturize regularly. Apply jojoba oil, coconut oil, or shea butter to nails and cuticles daily. Look for products with urea or lactic acid to lock in moisture.

Protect your hands from water, detergents, and chemicals by wearing gloves during chores (dishes, cleaning, gardening).

Long baths, swimming, or soaking can weaken nails. Limit excessive water exposure and moisturize afterward.

Increasing your water intake can improve dry fingernails.

All-Purpose Gentle Nail Care

Trim nails regularly. Keep them short to prevent breakage. File them in one direction (not sawing back and forth) to avoid splits.

Use a nail strengthener. Look for products containing keratin, calcium, or hydrolyzed wheat protein. Avoid those with formaldehyde or toluene, which can dry out nails.

Limit nail polish and acrylics. Give your nails breaks between manicures. Acrylics and gels can cause thinning and peeling.

Avoid nail biting. Use bitter-tasting nail polish or keep nails trimmed short to break the habit.

Choose acetone-free polish removers. Acetone dries out nails. Opt for soy-based or oil-based removers.

Skip cuticle cutting. Cuticles protect the nail bed from infection. Push them back gently with a wooden stick after softening with oil.

Avoid antibacterial or deodorant soaps, which can strip natural oils. Use fragrance-free, moisturizing soaps.

Soak nails in warm olive oil or a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) for 10 minutes, 2–3 times a week.

Mix avocado oil with a few drops of lemon juice, apply to nails, and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing.

Use paraffin wax treatments at home or spas to deeply moisturize nails and cuticles.

If Home Remedies Don’t Work

Supplements: Talk to a doctor about biotin, collagen, or iron supplements if you suspect a deficiency.

Prescription treatments: For fungal infections, a doctor may prescribe antifungal creams or oral medications.

Nail hardeners: Some contain formaldehyde (e.g., nail hardeners like Duri Rejuvacote), but use them sparingly as they can cause brittleness over time.

Dermatologist consultation: If nails are discolored, peeling, or painful, rule out underlying conditions like psoriasis, thyroid issues, or fungal infections.

When to Consult a Healthcare Provider

Nails can be indicative of overall health, including signaling underlying problems. If you notice these conditions, you might want to have a professional check them out:

  • Nails are discolored, thickened, or crumbly (possible fungal infection)
  • There’s pain, swelling, or pus around the nail (sign of infection)
  • Nails are spoon-shaped or have ridges (could indicate anemia or thyroid issues)
  • Home treatments don’t improve brittleness after 4–6 weeks

Infections

Fungal infections (onychomycosis) can cause thick, discolored, or brittle nails.

Bacterial infections (e.g., paronychia) can lead to redness, swelling, and pain around the nail bed.

Ingrown nails (especially toenails) can cause pain, swelling, and infection if not treated.

Systemic Conditions

Psoriasis can cause pitted, discolored, or crumbly nails.

Diabetes can lead to poor circulation, increasing the risk of nail infections and slow healing.

Trauma to the nail (e.g., crushing or cutting) can cause bruising, detachment, or permanent damage.

Poor Nail Hygiene:

  • When dirt and bacteria accumulate under nails, it often leads to infections or spreading germs (e.g., during cooking or handshakes).
  • Long or unkempt nails can harbor more bacteria and viruses, increasing the risk of illness.
  • Overgrown or dirty nails are likely perceived as unhygienic in professional or social settings.
  • Some workplaces (e.g., healthcare, food service) have strict grooming standards that require short, clean nails.

Interference with Daily Tasks:

  • Long or broken nails can tear or snag on fabrics, keyboards, or touchscreens–and those are only examples!
  • They may make it difficult to perform tasks that require fine motor skills (e.g., typing, sewing, or handling small objects).

Discomfort or Pain:

  • Pressing too hard on a keyboard or touching sensitive skin can cause discomfort.
  • Nails that are too long or improperly shaped may press into the skin, causing irritation.

Workplace Hazards:

  • Long nails can pose risks in manual labor jobs (e.g., getting caught in machinery or tools).
  • They may not be allowed in certain industries (e.g., healthcare, laboratories) due to contamination risks.

Allergies:

  • Some people develop allergic reactions to nail products (e.g., acrylic nails, polish, or adhesives), leading to redness, itching, or swelling.

Bottom Line: There’s more to nails than a casual glance at hands or feet might reveal.

ON FEATHERS: WRITING, WARMTH, SALES AND SEX

Posted on by vlaw759

I thought I knew feathers. Researching this blog revealed the vastness of my ignorance!

Feathers have a variety of uses across history, cultures, and industries. Here are some of the most common and notable uses:

Writing

Historically, writers used feathers (especially from geese or swans) to make quill pens before the invention of the metal nib pen.

Quill pens were used from around the 6th century until the 19th century, evolving as a primary writing tool during the Middle Ages and remaining dominant until mass-produced dip pens emerged around 1820.

Warmth

One princess enjoyed feather ticks so much that she slept on a pile of 40 of them—and still felt the pea on the bottom!

Today, people use down feathers from ducks or geese in jackets, sleeping bags, and blankets for their excellent insulation properties.

The use of feathers for bedding dates back centuries, providing insulation and comfort in featherbeds

As a child, I slept with feather ticks at my granny’s house. These were made primarily from chicken feathers, some duck, with the nibs cut off.

Feather ticks were common in historical bedding, often placed over a harder mattress to make it more comfortable. Also called a featherbed or tick, it’s a linen or cotton bag filled with feathery down and sewn shut, traditionally used as a mattress topper or blanket to add softness and warmth to a bed. Regarding the origin of the term “tick,” it refers to the fabric covering or bag that holds the feathers, not the insect.

Feather-filled pillows and comforters are popular for their softness and insulation.

Feather Market

There is money to be made in feathers! Recent market figures confirm that the global market in feather products is significant and expecting steady annual growth.

Down jackets: $28.49 billion in 2025

Sleeping bags: $2.67 billion in 2025

Down bedding: $3 billion in 2025

Decorative Use

Fashion designers often use feathers in hats, boas, and capes for fashion.

Emperor Pedro II of Brazil wearing a wide collar of orange toucan feathers

Costume designers use them for Carnival and performance costumes (e.g., burlesque, theater, and dance). Feathered fans are traditional and iconic in fan dancing (especially in styles like burlesque or Hawaiian hula).

Some designers add feathers to clothing, bags, and shoes for a unique, luxurious, or exotic aesthetic.

Many traditional cultural attires include feathery adornments, such as Native American headdresses, Hawaiian chieftain capes, and Siberian Sakha winter clothing.

Home Decor

Decorators use feathers in wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, and wall art.

I made this bouquet of feathers in crab tails!

DYI Crafts and Art

Jewelry (e.g., earrings, necklaces)
Scrapbooking and card-making
Dreamcatchers and other handmade decor
Used in paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media art projects

Spiritual and Healing Practices

In some Indigenous traditions, participants use feathers to waft smoke from burning herbs (like sage or cedar) during smudging ceremonies.

Some believe a feather can to help direct or cleanse energy during rituals.

Symbolism and Ceremonies

Feathers often represent honor, freedom, and spirituality in many cultures.

Eagle feathers are sacred and used in ceremonies, rituals, and as symbols of honor in many Native American traditions. The laws around possessing an eagle feather are complicated and vary from state to state.

In ancient Egypt, feathers symbolized truth and justice (e.g., the feather of Ma’at).

Feathers are sometimes used as symbols of achievement, such as in military or scout badges.

Military Uses

Historically, fletchers used feathers to stabilize arrows in flight, for battle, hunting, and archery demonstrations.

Feathers have adorned military uniforms in some historical periods (e.g., cavalry helmets or officer hats). Particularly on headgear, these feather adornments aid in battlefield identification.

Several Native America tribes present feathers to members for particularly courageous actions, such as military feats. These feather awards often form part of traditional regalia, including war bonnets and hair ornaments.

Musical Instruments

Artisans sometimes use feathers to decorate instruments like guitars, violins, ‘uli’uli, or drums for aesthetic purposes.

In some cultures, musicians have used feathers to create sounds or as part of musical instruments for millenia. Appalachian dulcimer players today sometimes use a feather quill to pluck the strings.

Sports

Fishermen use feathers to create artificial flies for fly fishing, mimicking the appearance of insects or baitfish.

The word “shuttlecock” comes from the projectile’s resemblance to a rooster’s tail. A traditional shuttlecock is composed of feathers secured in a cork wrapped in thin leather. Badminton is the most well-known sport that uses shuttlecocks. Players hit the shuttlecock back and forth over a net using rackets.

Battledore is an ancient game similar to badminton, where players use a small paddle (battledore) to keep a shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible. Less structured than badminton, battledore is often played casually or by children.

Hanetsuki is a traditional Japanese game similar to battledore and shuttlecock. Players use wooden
paddles to hit a shuttlecock and keep it airborne.

Home and Garden

Feather dusters are quite handy, traditionally used for cleaning delicate surfaces like lampshades, blinds, and furniture due to their softness and ability to trap dust.

Gardeners and farmers sometimes use feathers (especially owl feathers) in gardens or farms to deter pests like birds or rodents.

Environmental and Scientific Uses

Feathers are studied in biology and ecology to understand bird behavior, migration, and health.

Researchers use feathers in tracking and monitoring bird populations (e.g., banding feathers with identification tags).

Industrial Uses

Economists estimate that feathers yield a profit of about 50 cents per pound in industry, significantly higher than the profit from chicken meat—or so I read!

A byproduct of poultry processing, feather meal is used as a slow-release fertilizer in agriculture due to its high nitrogen content.

Research is ongoing into using feathers (keratin) to create sustainable materials like bioplastics or textiles.

Toys with attached feathers can stimulate playful cats or train hunting dogs.

Feathers provide extra comfort in pet nests or the filling of beds.

Ethical and Sustainable Considerations

Many feathers used today are byproducts of the food industry (e.g., from ducks or chickens raised for meat or eggs).

Feathers harvested specifically for use in fashion or crafts raise ethical concerns about animal welfare. Many people use synthetic feathers (made from polyester or other materials) as cruelty-free alternatives in fashion and decor.

And Because Sex Was Mentioned in the Title

Feathers have a long history of being used in sensual and sexual contexts, often for their tactile, visual, and psychological appeal, often used as part of foreplay, roleplay, or sensory exploration.

You can look it up!

Minneapolis hosts a city-wide pillow fight every year, perhaps the least erotic feathery orgy around!

Feathers can provide light, teasing touches to heighten sensitivity and arousal.

They are popular in sensory deprivation or tease-and-denial play. People might use feathers as part of bondage or restraint play, to enhance the experience of being controlled or immobilized. Partners may use feathers to explore each other’s bodies in new ways, adding variety to foreplay or massage.

Roleplay scenarios might feature feathers, such as feather dusters in domestic servant or maid fantasies.

Tantric or spiritual intimacy practices, where people use touch to deepen connection and mindfulness, may incorporate feathers.

In some cases, people use feathers in temperature play, either by chilling them or warming them.

Many people create homemade feather wands or ticklers by attaching feathers to handles or using them in combination with other tools like floggers or crops.

Issues to Consider

Ensure feathers are clean and free of allergens, especially if shared between partners or used in sensitive areas.

Always discuss boundaries and comfort levels beforehand, especially when introducing new sensations or tools.

Use soft, high-quality feathers to avoid irritation or discomfort.

Never use feathers in the eyes, ears, or throat, as they can cause injury.

Bottom Line: Feathers are useful as well as ornamental, valued for both profit and pleasure.

ON SWEAT: Triggers, Colors, and Gender

Posted on by vlaw759

Sweat—we all do it. Indeed, humans are the sweatiest of all animals. And there’s a lot more to sweating than feeling damp!

For one thing, it’s everywhere!

Japanese warriors perspired so much that their helmets came with drain holes (ase nagashi no ana) under the chin guard.

Humans have 2 to 4 million sweat glands distributed—except for ears, lips, and nails—all over the body, with higher concentrations in some places, like the palms, forehead, and armpits. Your feet alone have 250,000 sweat glands, more than on your back.

A “normal” person sweats about 275 gallons each year. This is enough to fill the gas tanks of three mid-size SUVs.

  • There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are found all over the body and produce a watery fluid, while apocrine glands are located in hairy areas (think groin) and produce a thicker, milky fluid.
  • About 99% of sweat is water, with the remaining 1% consisting of salts, proteins, and other substances.

Your Sweaty Friend

One might say sweat is the body’s best friend!

  • Sweating helps regulate body temperature. When the liquid on your skin evaporates, transforming from a liquid into a gas, it takes some heat from the blood right under your skin with it. Cooler blood cools us down.
  • Stress, anxiety, and excitement can activate sweat glands, leading to what is commonly known as “nervous sweat.”
  • Though not its primary function, sweating can help expel small amounts of waste products like urea and ammonia.
  • Unfortunately, mosquitoes, along with many other insects, are attracted to human perspiration. Insects need the sodium in salt, just like the rest of us, and our salty perspiration has what they need.

Surprising Sweat

Sweat has characteristics and roles that many people might not be aware of.

  • Sweat itself doesn’t smell. Perspiration dripping from your forehead and arms after a run is mostly odorless. The odor associated with sweating comes from bacteria breaking down the liquid on the skin’s surface.
  • Online sources are divided on whether men sweat more than women, but there is agreement that women have more sweat glands than men. Men start sweating sooner when physically active. One possibility is that the amount of perspiration is mediated by the size and shape of the body.
  • But women and men smell different. “Researchers asked 60 volunteers to squeeze cotton gauze in their unwashed hands for 10 minutes, then analysed the chemical profile of the volatile organic compounds (mainly derived from sweat) that make up a person’s scent. They were able to distinguish gender with 97% accuracy.”
  • Women often experience hot flashes and increased sweating during menopause. Similar symptoms are also possible in men, because their testosterone level drops with age.
  • Fitter individuals tend to start sweating sooner and more profusely than those who are less fit, because their bodies are more efficient at cooling down.

Sweaty Revelations

Sweat tells a lot about you.

  • Darker, more concentrated perspiration can be a sign of dehydration.
  • When a person sweats excessively, even when not hot or exercising, it may signal a medical condition called hyperhidrosis. An estimated 360 million people worldwide suffer from extreme sweating.
  • Recurring night sweats can be caused by several other health conditions—besides menopause and hyperhidrosis: hormone disorders, an infection, or side effects from certain medications.
  • Just like fingerprints, the composition of a person’s sweat is unique and can be used for biometric identification.
  • People might tend to bond more quickly when they have similar odor profiles.
  • Some foods increase sweating, include spicy foods like chili peppers, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, salt, meat, and many processed foods (especially the fat-filled ones).
  • Profuse sweating after eating, especially on only one side of the face, may be a sign of Frey’s Syndrome and might require medical treatment.
  • Fearful sweat is chemically different. Dogs and some humans can smell the difference.
  • Vegetarians have better smelling perspiration, according to one study. Women judged the sweat smell of non-meat eating and carnivorous men. The results: the vegetarian men had more attractive smelling sweat.
  • A genetic variation means that some people (mostly people of Asian descent) do not produce body odor, no matter how sweaty they get.

Odd Sweat

Sweat has some quirky aspects, too.

  • Sweat doesn’t drip off without gravity, so “astronauts wear special underwear on their spacewalks; it’s filled with cooling tubes that whisk the heat away. One bonus in the controlled environment of a space station: Any extra moisture from sweat that does get into the air is sucked up by the ventilation system and recycled into fresh water for the astronauts to drink.”
  • “Chromhidrosis” is a rare condition that causes colored perspiration, which can be yellow, green, blue, or even black.
  • Humans can sweat blood if they have a rare condition called Hematohidrosis. Capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to discharge blood. It occurs when the affected person is under extreme physical or emotional stress. This condition is so rare, only a handful of cases have ever been recorded.
  • Research from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm suggests that sniffing sweat from strangers might help alleviate social anxiety.
  • The artificial sweat industry provides a variety of “sweats” depending on what it is needed for. Clothing, shoe, jewelry, musical instruments, and phone and tablet manufacturers all need to know how saltiness and pH (sweat is slightly acidic) affect their products. Forensic laboratories need a different blend for creating control fingerprints, whatever those might be.

Cultural Sweat

Sweat has played a role in various cultures and historical contexts.

Osho Inipi Sweat Lodge
  • Athletes in Ancent Greece scraped sweat, oil, and dirt off their skin after training at gymnasiums. This residue, gloios, was used to treat everything from skin ailments to joint inflammation.
  • Saunas are such an important part of Finnish culture that there are more saunas than people, including one attached to the Parliament building!
  • Several Native American communities, including the Lakota and the Maya, practice sweat lodge rituals. These steam baths are part of purification ceremonies and spiritual practices.
  • In some cultures, people view sweating as a sign of hard work and dedication. For example, in Japan, the phrase “sweat of one’s brow” is a compliment indicating diligence.
  • The “sweat of the brow” doctrine is an element of copyright law. It means that a creator has earned copyright control over their work by virtue of the effort expended to make it.

Useful Sweat

Sweat has contemporary uses.

  • Sweat sensors can monitor health metrics like hydration levels, glucose, and electrolyte balance.
  • Athletes use sweat analysis to optimize performance. By studying their sweat composition, they can tailor their hydration and nutrition strategies.
  • Because sweat is in part sourced from the liquid parts of blood, it’s packed with information: testing sweat can detect the presence of caffeine, alcohol, cocaine – or even spicy tomato snacks.
  • Sweat patches are sometimes used to monitor substance use over time.

Sweaty Interactions

Sweat also interacts with our surroundings.

  • When sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat from the skin, which can slightly cool the surrounding air.
  • The acids in sweat can alter the pH of materials it comes into contact with, such as clothing, mousepads, and musical instruments.
  • The salts in sweat can cause metals to corrode faster, which is why gym equipment and electronics often have protective coatings.

Mythical Sweat

Sweat myths debunked.

Healthy Sweat

Sweat plays a significant role in personal hygiene and health.

Bottom Line: Sweat isn’t just a sign of a good workout or a hot day; it plays a crucial role in our body’s ability to regulate temperature and maintain overall health.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAIR!

Posted on by vlaw759

What people notice first is the visual appearance of head hair. Indeed, I wrote a whole blog about head hair (Hairy Issues, May 27, 2025). But hair is much more than grooming!

Cultural and Social Importance

Identity and Expression: Hair is a powerful tool for self-expression. Hairstyles, colors, and length often reflect personal identity, cultural heritage, and social status. Hair length and cut often signal biological sex.

(photo) Laetitia Ky, a hair artist from Cote d’Ivoire

Symbolism

Rastafarians wear their hair long to symbolize their connection to the Biblical Samson.

Hair can symbolize various traits across cultures.

Freedom and Rebellion: Long, uncut hair often signifies a desire for freedom (e.g., hippie movement) or spiritual devotion (e.g., sadhus in India).

Religion and Spirituality: In many cultures, hair holds spiritual significance. Sikhs do not cut their hair as a sign of respect for God’s creation. Buddhist monks and nuns shave their heads to symbolize detachment from worldly desires. At least 14 religions have requirements or “recommendations” about hair length, style, and/or covering.

Rituals and Rites of Passage: Haircuts or hairstyles mark significant life events (e.g., first haircut in some cultures, mourning practices where the bereaved cut their hair or leave it uncut).

Social Status and Profession: Hairstyles can indicate profession (e.g., military buzz cuts) or social rank (e.g., elaborate hairstyles in royalty or aristocracy).

Biology and Health

What comes next to mind probably relates to temperature, for example hair up (pony tail, etc.) off the neck in hot weather.

Thermoregulation: Hair helps regulate body temperature by trapping heat close to the skin in cold conditions and aiding in sweat evaporation in hot conditions. We don’t often think about it, but scalp hair may help stabilize brain temperature.

Protection: Hair on the scalp protects the head from UV radiation and minor injuries. Tightly curled hair provides more protection from solar radiation (which is particularly strong around the Equator) than straight hair. Eyebrows and eyelashes shield the eyes from sweat, dust, and other debris.

Sensory Functions: Hair follicles connect to nerve endings, making them sensitive to touch, temperature, pain, and fear.

Indicator of Health: Changes in hair texture, thickness, or loss can signal nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, stress, autoimmune diseases, or underlying health conditions (e.g., thyroid disorders, alopecia). Hair is also used to assess exposure to substances.

Age: Pattern baldness and hair loss frequently advance with age. Ditto hair color/pigmentation loss.

Economic and Industrial Importance

Beauty and Cosmetics Industry: Hair care is a major source of profit in the beauty industry, from such products as shampoos, conditioners, dyes, and styling tools. The global hair care market is valued at billions of dollars annually.

Wigs and Extensions: Wig makers highly prize human hair for wigs, extensions, and hairpieces for cosmetic purposes, especially for cancer patients.

Textiles and Materials: Animal hair (e.g., wool, cashmere) is used in textiles, but human hair is also repurposed in some industries (e.g., for making felt).

Recycling and Sustainability

Human hair is increasingly recycled for environmental purposes.

Oil Spill Cleanup: Hair absorbs oil, making it useful for cleaning up environmental disasters.

Fertilizer and Compost: Hair decomposes slowly and adds nitrogen to compost.

Art and Crafts: Particularly creative people up-cycle human hair into jewelry, sculptures, or other art projects.

Environmental Impact

Biodegradability: Unlike synthetic fibers, human hair is biodegradable, reducing microplastic pollution when discarded. However, it takes several years to break down, so large amounts of it can still cause volume problems.

Waste Reduction: Recycling hair diverts waste from landfills and reduces the environmental footprint of industries like beauty and fashion.

Scientific Hair Uses

Forensic Uses

DNA Analysis: Forensic investigators can use hair to identify individuals or determine ancestry.

Toxicology: Hair analysis can detect drug use, poisoning, or exposure to certain chemicals over time.

Historical and Archaeological Insights

Reconstruction of Ötzi

Hair can survive for thousands of years under the right conditions, providing insights into ancient diets, health, and lifestyles (e.g., analysis of Ötzi the Iceman’s hair).

Psychological and Emotional Significance

Self-Esteem and Confidence: Hair can significantly impact self-image and confidence. Hair loss or changes in hair health can affect mental well-being.

Memory and Sentiment: People often preserve locks of hair as keepsakes (e.g., baby’s first haircut, memorial locks) to commemorate loved ones or significant life events.

Ethical and Compassionate Considerations

Animal Welfare: Using human hair instead of animal-derived materials (e.g., fur) can align with ethical and compassionate values.

Sustainability: Supporting businesses that recycle or up-cycle hair contributes to a circular economy and reduces environmental harm.

Controversies and Challenges

Exploitation: The hair industry has faced criticism for exploitative practices, such as unethical sourcing of human hair without fair compensation (e.g., from underprivileged communities).

Cultural Appropriation: Hairstyles rooted in specific cultures are sometimes adopted without acknowledgment or respect, leading to debates about cultural appropriation vs. appreciation.

Targeted Regulations: Many organizations adopt grooming standards that ban hairstyles disproportionately used by members of a particular ethnic, racial, or cultural group.


Health Risks: Poor hair care practices or excessive use of chemical treatments can damage hair and pose health risks (e.g., scalp irritation, chemical burns).

Sustainable Alternatives and Innovations

Hair Recycling Programs: Organizations like Hair We Share and Locks of Love collect donated hair to make wigs for those in need. Hair must be at least 10 inches long, measured tip to tip, to be used in a hairpiece. Some organizations accept shorter donations, which they might sell to offset costs or repurpose for environmental projects. Many salons participate in programs that collect waste hair for recycling.

Biotechnology: Scientists are exploring lab-grown hair follicles as a sustainable alternative for medical and cosmetic uses.

Vegan and Cruelty-Free Products: Many brands now offer plant-based or synthetic alternatives to human hair in wigs and extensions.

Bottom Line: Hair is important in virtually every aspect of people’s lives—culture, biology, even environmental sustainability.