Friction and Wear Studies of Human Hair and Skin
January 2005
in “
Wear
”
human hair skin shampoo conditioner cosmetic science friction wear properties skin–hair contact hair–hair interactions temperature humidity tribometer reciprocating motion Caucasian hair Asian hair African hair virgin hair chemo-mechanically damaged hair conditioner treated hair synthetic skin atomic force microscopy optical microscopy coefficient of friction hair morphology skin morphology damaged hair treated hair AFM
TLDR Human hair and skin friction vary by ethnicity, hair type, and environmental conditions.
The study investigated the friction and wear properties of human hair and skin to improve shampoo and conditioner products. Using a flat-on-flat tribometer, the researchers measured the coefficient of friction for Caucasian, Asian, and African hair (virgin, damaged, and treated) against synthetic skin and other hair. They found that environmental factors like temperature and humidity significantly affected hair friction. The study developed a new technique for mounting hair and highlighted the importance of understanding hair's tribological properties to advance cosmetic science.
