This message is from: Emily Wigley <[email protected]>
Horse hair doesn't felt because it does not shrink. I think it doesn't shrink because it has no crimp in the hair shaft? As far as I know, only hair that has a crimp in it can felt. Horse coat hair is actually fur - it grows in to a certain length, then sheds seasonally. Hair continues to grow (human hair, mane and tail hair, poodle hair, etc.). Of course sheep's wool isn't the same as hair, but it does keep growing, and its crimp is what allows it to shrink and thus to be felted. My poodle's hair would felt if I wanted to felt it (it dreds beautifully if I let it get long and don't brush it), but I had a German shepherd whose shedded coat would not felt.
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