Differential Wetting Characterization of Hair Fibers

In 2012, a study by Abe Vaynberg et al. introduced a new methodology called differential wetting characterization (DWC) for assessing the wetting property of hair fibers. This method is based on observing the shape of droplets suspended on a pair of parallel fibers. If the fibers have identical wetting properties, the droplets assume a symmetric configuration. However, if the fibers have different wetting characteristics, the droplets will skew towards the more hydrophilic fiber. The study demonstrated that DWC could differentiate changes in the wetting property of hair surfaces due to chemical or physical treatment. This method could be used for broad wetting differentiation of various fibers.