Which term best describes a hair's ability to return to its original shape after stretching?

• A. Elasticity
• B. Texture
• C. Density
• D. Porosity

Answer: (A)

Elasticity is the term that describes a hair strand's ability to return to its original shape after being stretched. This property shows how well the cortex and bonds within the hair recover after tension, reflecting the hair’s resilience. Healthy elasticity means a strand can extend when pulled and snap back without breaking. When elasticity is reduced, hair may stay stretched or snap during styling, signaling weakened bonds from chemical processing, heat, or mechanical damage. The other terms describe different aspects: texture is how the hair feels and looks on the surface; density refers to how many strands share a given area, affecting fullness; porosity is how easily hair absorbs and releases moisture and products. These do not capture how a strand recovers after stretching, which is what elasticity measures. You can test it by gently pulling a small wet strand; it should stretch and then return to its original length if elasticity is good.