• Question: Why do we have hair?

    Asked by thomasfitz1 to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Hi Thomas,
      All mammals have (or used to have) hair to keep them warm – it’s one of the characteristics that sets mammals apart from other animals. We create our own body heat so we need hair to help retain that heat. Humans lost most of their body hair during their evolution because we started using animal skins and other clothing instead. We still have hair on our heads though because without it that would leave a lot of exposed skin through which we would lose heat!
      Sive

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