Why does hair sometimes orient/clump?

I am trying to create some Christmas tinsel - but it’s very hit and miss with the hair simulator.

I created a bezier curve, used a bezier circle as the bevel object - to create the inner strand.

I then converted this to a mesh so I have actual geometry - then added a particle system and set it to hair.

I expected the hair to all radiate out from the central strand - and sometimes it does this. However at other times when I add the hair particle system it does this (see image below).

Does anyone know why the hairs are oriented/clumped like this? I haven’t changed anything in the hair settings except the hair length.


Interestingly if I enable dynamics - the hair seems to go back and behave itself.


Could you upload the file where it does not work somewhere?