The actual hair fiber is a hell of a material. (Actually much stronger than the root on the scalp.)
The Mythbusters proved you can make rope out of it to break out of jail.
Wow, you can break out of jail with a rope? O_O So when it's easy to pull out, that's just the root? But then, that root's probably rather important. So, it'd probably be impossible for a person to hang by their hair then, right?
Not for very long anyways. A single hair has a very weak root. (Go on see how easy it is to just yank a hair out.) Thousands of hairs combined distributes weight and force much better so it seems stronger. However, hanging from gravity by every hair on your head will not last long.
I've done it plenty. ^^ Thanks for the help. I'm writing a story, and I was wondering how realistic hanging by hair is.
A single strand of human hair can support about 100 grams in weight. As Major Tom has pointed out, the problem is the root.
edited 23rd Mar '11 8:02:59 PM by Pentadragon
You could make the character have a long braid that they chop off and then hang by, that might work.
"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."
OMG NO NOSECONES
Gray hairs seem weaker.
Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
OMG NO NOSECONES
Also: If you got long hair and it gets caught in machinery, guess what happens next?
Your scalp is ripped from your skull.
Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
captainbrass
I remember a poster on that theme from my school metalwork class. It stuck in my mind for some reason...
"Well, it's a lifestyle."
Just wondering, just how strong is hair? It's not really addressed in Prehensile Hair, which seems more about willing one's hair to move, but would it be possible for someone to hang by their hair if they tied it around a high branch? Granted, of course, that the person would probably need a ton of Advil afterward.