Characteristics of human hair can be used in race studies and in forensic investigations. Although whisker samples of only three dozen Caucasoids have been studied to date, in our laboratory, all h a v e whiskers which h a v e a r e l a t i v e l y high percentage of irregularity in cross section which we have referred to as "steakhoning" This characteristic of male Caucasoid facial hair causes beards and mustaches to generally have a much more coarse appearance than head hair. Although a limited number of samples have been examined to date, "steak-boning" appears to be much l e s s prevalent in male facial hair of other races. Facial hair from negroids and mongoloids either lacks this characteristic or it is not as distinguishable as with Caucasoid male facial hair. Oceanic groups have not been studied except for a few isolated individuals who have mixed Caucasoid ancestry. In these instances the male facial hair is difficult to distinguish from Caucasoid. With racial studies of whisker samples care should be taken to investigate properly cleaned samples of ideal length. Although procedures have been discussed for preparation of mammalian hair (l), different procedures are necessary to prepare whisker samples.