TLDR African hair has the most lipids, while Caucasian hair is more hydrated and stronger.
The study aimed to characterize the external lipids of different ethnic hairs and their impact on hair properties. It found that African hair had the highest total lipid content, while Caucasian hair had higher melting points and phase transition temperatures, indicating higher hydration and lower diffusion coefficients. Lipid extraction led to decreased moisture and increased water desorption in all hair types. Infrared spectroscopy showed that Caucasian and African hairs had the most lipids with a lamellar/orthorhombic order. The extraction process affected both cuticular and cortex lipids, resulting in less water content and higher desorption, with Caucasian hair showing increased lipid order and improved breaking tenacity.
21 citations
,
March 2017 in “Skin research and technology” Removing external lipids from hair reduces moisture and increases strength, while removing internal lipids decreases water permeability.
55 citations
,
January 2013 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” African hair's keratin structure is influenced by its higher lipid content.
59 citations
,
January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology” 25 citations
,
November 2012 in “Thermochimica Acta” Internal lipids in keratin fibers, like wool and hair, reduce water absorption and release.
43 citations
,
July 2005 in “Journal of Chromatography B” A new method accurately measures hair lipids, revealing individual differences.
203 citations
,
June 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Human hair, despite its different types, shares common traits that affect its structure and response to treatments.
21 citations
,
March 2017 in “Skin research and technology” Removing external lipids from hair reduces moisture and increases strength, while removing internal lipids decreases water permeability.
April 2025 in “European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics” The new drug delivery system improves bicalutamide skin retention for better treatment of hair loss.
September 2019 in “University of Huddersfield Repository (University of Huddersfield)” Nanoemulsions can effectively deliver antiseptic agents deep into the skin.
13 citations
,
October 2023 in “Pharmaceutics” The new nasal gel for schizophrenia improved drug absorption and brain effects in rats.
1 citations
,
August 2023 in “Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews” Microneedles are promising for long-acting drug delivery and can improve patient compliance, but more data is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
