Characterization of the Lipid Composition at the Proximal Root Regions of Human Hair

    May 2005 in “ International Journal of Cosmetic Science ”
    Yoshinori Masukawa, Hirofumi Narita, Genji Imokawa
    TLDR Human hair contains various lipids that vary among individuals and help protect the hair.
    The study examined the lipid composition of hair from 44 Japanese females aged 1 to 81, focusing on eight lipids: hydrocarbons (HCs), squalene (SQ), wax esters (WEs), triglycerides (TGs), fatty acids (FAs), cholesterol (CH), ceramides (CERs), and 18-methyl eicosanoic acid (MEA). Hair samples were taken from the proximal root end and analyzed using chromatography. The lipids were classified into four groups based on their origins and correlations: group A (SQ, WEs, TGs, FAs) from sebum, group B (CH, CERs) as endogenous lipids, group C (HC) of unknown origin, and group D (MEA) as another endogenous lipid. Principal component analysis revealed a negative correlation between lipids in groups A and B, suggesting that group B lipids act as a barrier against sebum-derived lipids. The study concluded that CH, CERs, and MEA should be considered intrinsic internal lipids of human hair.
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