Streaming Potential Analysis of Hair Variation: Ethnicities and Environmental Exposures

October 2025 in “ International Journal of Cosmetic Science ”

Huijun Phoebe Tham, Kah Yuen Yip, Thomas L. Dawson

TLDR Hair properties vary by ethnicity and environment, affecting surface charge and particle deposition.

The study investigates how genetic, environmental, and cultural factors influence hair properties, focusing on surface charge and its role in particle deposition. It highlights distinct behaviors based on ethnicity, suggesting the need for further research into other surface properties. The use of smaller sample sizes reduced variability, allowing for the development of hypotheses regarding classifications and surface functional groups, which could inform future studies.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

12 / 12 results

research High-Throughput Phenotyping Methods for Quantifying Hair Fiber Morphology

4 citations , June 2021 in “Scientific Reports”

Hair fiber shape and curvature are not significantly linked when ancestry is considered.

research Variation in Human Hair Ultrastructure Among Three Biogeographic Populations

28 citations , November 2018 in “Journal of structural biology”

Different populations have distinct hair structures related to their ancestry.

research Quantifying Hair Shape and Hair Damage Induced During Reshaping of Hair

11 citations , May 2016 in “PubMed”

New imaging and testing methods can effectively assess hair shape changes and damage.

research Quantifying Variation in Human Scalp Hair Fiber Shape and Pigmentation

32 citations , March 2016 in “American Journal of Physical Anthropology”

African hair is curled, Asian hair is thick, European hair is lighter, and chemical methods help identify hair color differences.

research Hair Care Practices and Structural Evaluation of Scalp and Hair Shaft Parameters in African American and Caucasian Women

25 citations , August 2015 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology”

African American women report more hair issues and use different hair care practices than Caucasian women, and have different hair and scalp characteristics.

research Keratins and Lipids in Ethnic Hair

55 citations , January 2013 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science”

African hair's keratin structure is influenced by its higher lipid content.

research The Ethnic Differences in Hair Damage and Integral Hair Lipid After Ultraviolet Radiation

59 citations , January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology”

Asian hair is more resistant to UV damage due to higher lipid content.

What Women Want: Quantifying the Perception of Hair Amount - An Analysis of Hair Diameter and Density Changes with Age in Caucasian Women

research What Women Want: Quantifying the Perception of Hair Amount - An Analysis of Hair Diameter and Density Changes with Age in Caucasian Women

61 citations , April 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Caucasian women's hair appears thickest in their 20s, with perceived thinning after mid-30s due to both decreasing density and diameter.

research Photoaggravation of Hair Aging

24 citations , January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Sunlight exposure ages hair, making it brittle, stiff, and dry.

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”

Different ethnicities and treatments affect human hair strength and structure.

research Hair Cuticle Differences Between Asian And Caucasian Females

21 citations , October 2006 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Asian hair is stronger and more damage-resistant than Caucasian hair due to a thicker cuticle layer.

research Diversity of Hair Growth Profiles

115 citations , September 2005 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Different ethnic groups have unique hair growth patterns, with African hair growing slower and less dense, Asian hair growing fast but sparse, and Caucasian hair being densest; men are more likely to experience hair loss than women.