How to choose doll hair fiber thickness (what is the micron count)

Fiber thickness is measured in micrometers (which used to be called microns). One micron has the lentgh of 1 × 10−6 meter (the "micro-" prefix is the standard SI prefix for 10−6). In other words, it one millionth of a meter (and one thousandth of a millimeter, that is, 0.001 mm). It is abbreviated to µm (sometimes to um, previously to µ).

The easy way to think of micrometers is to remember that 1000 μm = 1 mm. It is also worth knowing that on average, the naked human eye cannot see things (close up) which are smaller than 40 micrometers. (However, we can see smaller objects or very distant objects if they reflect or emit light, for example spider silk in the garden or stars.)

As for the fibers on the market, they are about 20–40 µm thick. Lower and higher numbers are also possible (for example, silk micrometer count is 10–13, and human hair count is 30–100). Obviously, the lower the micrometer count, the more appropriate the fiber will be for tinier dolls, and vice versa.

Below, we list the micrometer counts (still frequently called micron counts) for the most popular natural fibers in the world:
– abaca: 14–15 µm
– coir: 5–25 µm
– cotton: 10–65 µm
– flax: 12–16 µm
– hemp: 16–50 µm
– jute: 17–20 µm
– ramie: 25–30 µm
– sissal: 100–400 µm
– alpaca: 15–45 µm
– angora: 14–16 µm
– camel: 17–19 µm
– cashmere: 18–20.5 µm
– mohair: 18–40 µm
– silk: 10–13 µm
– wool: 16–40 µm

The range of thicknesses of synthetic fibers is much greater, for example, microfiber is less than 10 µm thick, viscose – about 19 µm, and acetate – 20–100 µm.

Fiber producers inform of the thickness of their products using the micron count.

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