To accurately describe racial characteristics has become nearly impossible, because the original characteristics have been totally modified as result of mixed breeding practices all over the world.
There are three main race groups, with several sub-categories arising from each group.
The three races are Caucasoid from Europe, Negroid from Africa and Mongoloid from Asia.
The three human races have very distinct race-based visible traits.
Main traits are skin color, eye shape, eye color, hair texture, shape of nose and head.
In modern times the dividing lines have become blurred between ethnicity vs race. I am not talking about the sociology of race and ethnicity here.
Racial characteristics mean that members of the same race will display the same distinctive features based on its genetic composition. There are always some deviations, but the basic racial features will remain fairly uniform.
The gene pool of the maternal lineage (mother) as well as those of the paternal lineage (father) are thrown together to form the new gene composition of their baby. There is no such thing as a Hispanic race and non-hispanics are quite adamant about it.
When ancestors are from two (or several) different races, there will be a lot of deviations from the basic racial norms. Traits typical to those races will be displayed in varying degrees in the child's features.
Racism definition - for all intents and purposes I'll not go into a discussion about racism. Minority groups are for ever using racism to hide behind when trouble rears its ugly head.
This page is not about racism, but about the different races and their sub-race groups. Definition of racism is difficult to pinpoint as there are so many viewpoints.
A very clear and detailed description of just at about everything concerning racial characteristics can be found at the Bleaching Dental site. The image above is from that site.
Different ethnic skin types
There are a huge number of different skin shades. Use the skin tone chart at the Fitzpatrick classification page to determine your own ethnic skin type. It is estimated that there are 35 skin shades among the Negroid race alone.
Caucasoid skins are mainly found in Europe, North America, India, Middle East, Australia, etc. The negroid race includes African, African-Caribbean, African-American, Australian-Aborigines, etc skins. The mongoloid skins may include Chinese, Japanese, Sri Lankan, East Asian, Poynesian, and people from all the other countries in Asia. As a result of migration all races can now be found everywhere in the world.
1. Caucasoid racial characteristics
Skin colors varies from transluscent to olive or even dark brown in some countries (India).
Most skins are sensitive to sunburn and some can have freckles.
Skin tends to be dry and ages more quickly than negroid and mongolian skins.
Spider veins on the nose and cheeks is quite common. Many people have rosy red complexions.
The bony structures of cheekbones ranges from flat to prominent.
Lips are of medium thickness and the mouth not very wide.
Nose is long, thin with small nostrils. The chin and jawbone is strong.
Hair can be the full range from white to dark brown or even black.
Superfluous body and facial hair is a big problem for both sexes, especially people from the Mediterranean countries.
Eyes can be the full range from very light blue, green, brown through to black.
Hair shaft in cross section is oval, resulting in straight, curly or frizzy hair.
2. Negroid racial characteristics
Skin varies in tone and shade from pale brown to a deep ebony black.
Skin may be darker around the eyes and lighter on the forehead.
Skin tends to be oily and therefore ages slower than Caucasian skin.
Hyperpigmentation (darker) and hypopigmentation (lighter) marks are common after the wound has healed.
Facial bone structure is defined with deep-set brown/black eyes.
Lips are very full and fleshy on a wide mouth with dazzling white teeth.
Broad and flat nose bridge with big nostrils.
Hair is mostly black or very dark brown and woolly to the touch.
The insides of the hands and soles of the feet are very light in color.
Buttocks are much bigger than those of the caucasian and mongolian races.
Very little body hair, but ingrown hair can be a huge problem on male faces and throats when shaven.
Hair shaft in cross section is flat, resulting in curly to very, very frizzy hair.
3. Mongoloid racial characteristics
Skin is predominantly yellow in tone with a sallow tinge.
Skin is sensitive, oily and ages very well without the lines and wrinkles caucasian and negroid skins get.
Suffer from hyperpigmentation (darker) marks from healed skin lesions.
Skins are smooth and look nearly poreless, but with uneven pigmentation.
Chinese have flat, round faces with square jaws and round cheekbones.
Lips are normally generous on small mouths.
Noses are thin, narrow and short.
Eyes are dark brown or black, flat eyelid with epicanthic fold at inner corner in shallow eye sockets.
Very little body hair, but beautiful straight, black hair on the head.
Both sexes tend to be very short in stature.
Hair shaft in cross section is round, resulting in gorgeous straight hair.
Race
Includes
Diameter in nanometer
Hair cross section
Pigmentation
Cuticle shape
Undulation
Negroid
Blacks
60-90
Flat
Dense & clumped
Prevalent
Caucasoid
American European Mexican Middle Eastern
70-100
Oval
Evenly distributed
Medium
Uncommon
Mongoloid
Orientals & American Indians
90-120
Round
Dense auburn
Thick
Never
Examples of divergences from the norms:
Dark skinned people all over the world, belonging to the Negroid race, who are affected by albinism have very light skin and blonde hair. They are extremely sensitive to sunburn.
Lighter hair colors are associated with Northern Europeans especially. But blond hair can be found amongst a limited, although small number, of the dark skinned populations of the South Pacific, particularly the Solomon and Vanuatu Islands.
Al over the world skin color varies within different populations. People from the Indian subcontinent are classified as Caucasian, but many have quite dark skin.
Epicanthic fold (Mongolian eyelid fold) are typically associated with East Asian populations. But this Mongolian fold is prevalent in populations all over the world.
Please share any story about hair removal with the other site visitors. You can also make comments, rate the stories, offer suggestions, air opinions, ask/answer questions or publish information.
Are you looking for some specific information, but don't know where to look for it? You can do a site search or type what you are looking for into the Search Box below and click on the search button. You will be taken there.
Custom Search
Other pages related to racial characteristics
What are the differences between the different human hair?
Go to male body hair to get links to all the related pages.
Follicle depth determines the circumference and coarseness of the hair growing from the follicle.
Read about the 15 Urban Myths that have been shattered. SBI! Is now also available at only $29.99 per month.
