How much weight can One human hair can support?

Answer 1

Each strand is highly structured from the molecular to the cellular level, says Frédéric Leroy of L'Oréal Research, the sponsor of Hair, a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London.

"It is this structure which gives hair its exceptional, even unique properties," he said. "It's very easy to bend it, but very difficult to extend it."

Hair is strong. A single strand could hold 100g (3oz) in weight: the combined hair of a whole head could support 12 tonnes, or the weight of two elephants. Weight for weight, it is not as strong as steel: more like aluminium, or reinforced glass fibres or Kevlar, which is used to make bulletproof vests.

"So nature made these kinds of composite materials long before men could do it," said Dr Leroy.

source The Guardian 2004