Analyzing the Laser-Light Reflection from Human Hair Fibers: Light Components Underlying the Goniophotometric Curves and Fiber Cuticle Angles
July 2003
in “
PubMed
”
TLDR The research found a way to measure hair surface changes by analyzing how light reflects off of it, and determined hair cuticle angles vary by hair length and color.
In 2003, F-J Wortmann and colleagues used a laser-based, multichannel goniophotometer to analyze the reflection and scattering of laser-light from human hair fibers. This method was a quick, non-destructive way to monitor changes to the hair fiber surface caused by grooming procedures or cosmetic treatments. The study found that the goniophotometric curves could be analyzed by assuming three fractions of reflected light: specularly, diffusely, and internally reflected light. The intensity distribution for each light fraction was well described by a Gaussian distribution. The study also determined the tilt angle of the cuticle cells on the hair fiber surface from the systematic shift of the intensity peak for specularly reflected light. The results varied along the hair length and for different hair colors.
