Fur vs. Hair
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Fur and Hair is that Fur is soft hair that forms the thick outer covering of an animal body whereas Hair is the growth of protein filaments that form the outer cover of a human body.
Difference Between Fur and Hair
Fur vs. Hair
The fur is a profuse layer of soft hair on non-human mammals whereas hair is the growth of protein filaments on human mammals.
Fur vs. Hair
Animal hair is known as the fur on the flip side; a human hair is called hair.
Fur vs. Hair
Fur has single or double composition while hair has a single composition.
Fur vs. Hair
Fur grows in a synchronized manner, but the hair grows independently.
Fur vs. Hair
Fur grows shorter as thick crust conversely; hair grows longer and finer.
Fur vs. Hair
The fur is thick thus provides more protection and insulation on the other hand; hair provides less.
Furnoun
The hairy coat of various mammal species, especially when fine, soft and thick.
Hairnoun
(countable) A pigmented filament of keratin which grows from a follicle on the skin of humans and other mammals.
Furnoun
The hairy skin of an animal processed into clothing for humans.
Hairnoun
(uncountable) The collection or mass of such growths growing from the skin of humans and animals, and forming a covering for a part of the head or for any part or the whole body.
In the western world, women usually have long hair while men usually have short hair.Furnoun
A pelt used to make, trim or line clothing apparel.
Hairnoun
A slender outgrowth from the chitinous cuticle of insects, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Such hairs are totally unlike those of vertebrates in structure, composition, and mode of growth.
Furnoun
A coating, lining resembling fur in function and/or appearance.
Hairnoun
A cellular outgrowth of the epidermis, consisting of one or of several cells, whether pointed, hooked, knobbed, or stellated.
Internal hairs occur in the flower stalk of the yellow frog lily (Nuphar).Furnoun
A thick pile of fabric.
Hairnoun
A locking spring or other safety device in the lock of a rifle, etc., capable of being released by a slight pressure on a hair-trigger.
Furnoun
The soft, downy covering on the skin of a peach.
Hairnoun
(obsolete) Haircloth; a hair shirt.
Furnoun
The deposit formed on the interior of boilers and other vessels by hard water.
Hairnoun
(countable) Any very small distance, or degree; a hairbreadth.
Just a little louder please—turn that knob a hair to the right.Furnoun
The layer of epithelial debris on a tongue.
Hairnoun
dense growth of hairs covering the body or parts of it (as on the human head); helps prevent heat loss;
he combed his hairFurnoun
(heraldry) One of several patterns or diapers used as tinctures.
Hairnoun
a very small distance or space;
they escaped by a hair's-breadththey lost the election by a whiskerFurnoun
Rabbits and hares, as opposed to partridges and pheasants (called feathers).
Hairnoun
filamentous hairlike growth on a plant;
peach fuzzFurnoun
A furry; a member of the furry subculture.
Hairnoun
any of the cylindrical filaments characteristically growing from the epidermis of a mammal;
there is a hair in my soupFurnoun
Pubic hair.
Hairnoun
cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments
Furnoun
Sexual attractiveness.
Hairnoun
a filamentous projection or process on an organism
Furverb
(transitive) To cover with fur or a fur-like coating.
Furverb
(intransitive) To become covered with fur or a fur-like coating.
Furverb
To level a surface by applying furring to it.
Furpreposition
pronunciation spelling of for|from=AAVE
Furnoun
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
Furnoun
dense coat of fine silky hairs on mammals (e.g., cat or seal or weasel)
Furnoun
a garment made of fur
Comparison Chart
| Fur | Hair |
| The compact coat of soft hair on non-human mammals is called fur. | The extension of the protein coat of humans is called hair. |
| Name | |
| Animal hair | Human hair |
| Composition | |
| Three layers | Single-layer |
| Growth Pattern | |
| Grows in an orchestrated manner | Grows independently |
| Nature | |
| Short and rough | Long and soft |
| Function | |
| More protection and insulation | Less protection and insulation |
Fur vs. Hair
The word fur is for animal hair, but hair is for human hair. The fur grows short. The hair grows long. The diameter of hair is approximately range between 17 to 181 μm whereas fur is denser. The consistency of fur varies. The hair has the same consistency. Fur grows in the synchronized way while human hair grows unevenly. The fur is attached firmly to the core of hair follicles. The hair does not form a thick coating. Fur has single or double composition; on the other hand, hair has one. Fur grows according to the condition of the season. The hair grows until the hair follicles are active. Fur has a rigid nature, but, hair is softer. Fur offers more insulation than hair. The fur is used as camouflage. The hair does not offer this ability. The fur growth cycle is shorter than hair. Animals shed fur after a certain period. Humans do not shed hair.
What is Fur?
The fur is an old French word “fourrer,” meaning “covering,” or “to the line.” The word also found its origin in the proto-Germanic word “fodram” defined as “sheath.” The word “fur” was first used in the 15th century. The fur is an evolutionary character that outlines the mammalian ancestry. The fur is dense growth of soft hair covering on animal’s body. Hair is the character of all mammals, while fur talks about animal hair. According to Kamal Khidas, the curator of the vertebrate collection at the Canadian Museum of Nature, the short hair growing densely on the body is familiar as fur. The fur is made up of three layers — vibrissae functions as sensory organs that look for the environment, i.e., whiskers. Guard hairs are helpful in protection. Under hairs provide insulation. The composition of fur is the same as hair, made of keratin, a protein that forms fingernails, claws, horns, etc. Fur grows in a definite pattern and stops growing after a certain time. It may be short or coarse, long or soft, colored or transparent; all depends on the type and requirement of animal. Usually, fur grows thick in winter season to provide insulation. The growth cycle of fur is short. After a certain time, fur falls off. Fur provides insulation, protection, and thermoregulation. Humans use fur for clothing purposes. Some animal’s fur act like a mask, i.e., have a color of fur like the dirt. It is a weapon for self-defense.
What is Hair?
The word “hair” came from the English word “haer,” meaning “to bristle.” Many evolutionary biologists believe that hair evolves with the evolution of the endothermic process of mammals. Many biologists also described the progression of scales into hair according to the need of mammals. Hair is an extension of protein filaments from the dermis of the skin. Hair is composed of keratin protein, polymers of amino acids. It grows autonomously from hair follicles present deep in the dermis of the skin. The growth of hair depends on the active hair follicles. If hair follicles are damaged, then hair does not grow. There are three main types of hair; two are categorized as fur while whiskers are hair. Whiskers are long and inflexible. These hairs have receptors that detect the surrounding environment. Human hair does not provide a thick coating with the core of follicles; hence, protection and insulation ability is less. Humans need to wear clothes to protect themselves from heat and cold. Hair behaves like sensors, can detect the movement of air and physical touch. Wigs and hair filaments are made up of with human hair. Dough conditioner, l-cysteine, which is present in labels of bread, is made from human hair.
Stages
- Anagen: The stage of new hair growth.
- Catagen: An intermediate period in which hair growth stops.
- Telogen: The resting stage.
- Exogen: Hair starts to fall, and hair filaments enter the anagen stage.
ConclusionHair and fur have the same composition, but the difference is that fur covers the body of non-human mammals, whereas, hair is an extension of protein strands that covers the body of humans.
