Experimental Methods

January 2010 in “ Biological and medical physics series ”

Bharat Bhushan

Studysummary This review discusses past research on the chemical and physical properties of human hair, focusing on structural analysis and mechanical property measurements with methods like SEM and tension tests, but adds no new findings.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

Early research on human hair focused on its chemical and physical properties, including chemical composition, microstructure, and hair growth. Detailed structural information was primarily obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Mechanical properties were studied on a macroscale using conventional methods like tension, torsion, and bending tests.

View this study on link.springer.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

Effect of Ethnicity and Treatments on In Situ Tensile Response and Morphological Changes of Human Hair Characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy

research Effect of Ethnicity and Treatments on In Situ Tensile Response and Morphological Changes of Human Hair Characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy

42 citations , April 2008 in “Acta materialia”

This study investigated the tensile response and morphological changes of different ethnic hair types using AFM, showing variations between virgin, chemically damaged, and conditioner-treated Caucasian hair under different conditions.

research In Situ Tensile Deformation Characterization of Human Hair with Atomic Force Microscopy

81 citations , December 2007 in “Acta materialia”

This study conducted in situ tensile loading experiments with atomic force microscopy to observe how conditioning treatments affect the tensile response of virgin, chemically damaged, and mechanically damaged Caucasian hair.

research Nanomechanical Characterization of Human Hair Using Nanoindentation and SEM

117 citations , August 2005 in “Ultramicroscopy”

This study systematically characterized the nanomechanical properties of human hair, such as hardness and elastic modulus, across different ethnicities and treatment conditions using nanoindentation and scanning electron microscopy.

research Friction and Wear Studies of Human Hair and Skin

97 citations , January 2005 in “Wear”

In this study, the researchers measured and discussed the friction and wear properties of various hair types against synthetic skin and other hair, finding variations based on factors like ethnicity, hair condition, and environmental conditions.