Can hair texture be changed by theoretically transplanting hair from one person to another? (Photo)

Question

I know that hair texture is determined by the shape of one's follicle. Knowing this, if hair could possibly be transplanted from one person to another, will the transplanted hair continue to grow in the texture of the donor? For example, someone with curly hair is the donor for someone with straight hair. After the hair is implanted, will the hair continue to grow straight or curly? This is just a curious question as I know person to person hair transplant isn't possible yet.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

You can't transplant another person's hair to your scalp.  Unless you they are your identical twin.  Otherwise, your body will reject it.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

Hair texture is determined by genetics. And DNA governs the
shape of the follicle and how the hair is produced within these  structures.

Follicles cannot be transferred from a different person. The
only exception would be in the case of identical twins. However, they would
have the same hair texture. Theoretically, if follicles could be safely and reliable
transferred from other people, the hair would maintain its original texture due
to the DNA codes which reside in the cells of these structures.

Every person has a different protein signature. And this
would trigger a response from your immune system. This would involve an
aggressive attack on the follicles since the immune system recognizes them as
being foreign to the body. Therefore the grafts would not survive.

Immunosuppressant drugs would create additional
complications and lower your body’s defense, making you vulnerable to various
diseases and infections.

Jack Fisher, MD · Answer

It is not possible to transfer one person's hair to another. The body will absolutely reject the foreign hair.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

You are correct that it is not possible to transplant hair from one person to another. But if it was (theoretically) the transplanted hair would indeed take on most of the characteristics of the "donor" hair. We call this phenomenon donor dominance. Although never tested, I suspect the donor hair would lose a bit of its curl over time.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

This should never be done unless the donor is an identical twin. Hair from another person will reject just like a kidney or heart transplant unless treated with powerful drugs after the surgery

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Texture can be changed if the texture is different in each individual.  The transplanted hair will keep its original intrinsic characteristics.

Richard Galitz, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

Yes if the hair could be transplanted from a straight haired individual to a curly haired individual the donor hair would keep its original character. However this is ABSOLUTELY not possible (one individual to another individual) and probably will not be for years to come.

Can hair texture be changed by theoretically transplanting hair from one person to another? (Photo)

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