Heat Transfer in Human Hair
June 2019
in “
International Journal of Cosmetic Science
”
Studysummary This study developed mathematical models showing that heat penetrates individual hair quickly but takes longer to reach the center of hair bundles, helping understand potential damage from high-temperature styling tools. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study developed mathematical models to analyze heat transfer in individual hairs and thin tresses during blow drying. It found that heat transfer in a single hair occurred quickly through conduction, while in a hair assembly, both conduction and convection were involved, resulting in slower heat transfer. Heat penetration to the center of a hair assembly took minutes rather than seconds. This model helped understand the potential for hair damage when using high-temperature styling devices like flat irons.
