Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
06:01
Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans
Published on: June 10, 2018
19.3K
Automated Measurement of Spatially Resolved Hair-Hair Single Fiber Adhesion
Thomas R Cristiani, Nicholas A Cadirov, Zhanping Zhang1
1The Procter and Gamble Company , Mason Business Center, 8700 Mason-Montgomery Road , Mason , Ohio 45040 , United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 6, 2019
Summary
Human hair adhesion forces range from 1 to 1000 nN, influenced by surface microstructure. Haircare products can control adhesion by modifying hair surface properties.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Human hair adhesion influences its macroscopic properties.
- Understanding hair-hair interactions is crucial for haircare product development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the adhesion forces between individual human hair fibers.
- To investigate the relationship between hair surface topography and adhesion.
- To explore the potential for haircare products to modify hair adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Optical video microscopy was used to observe natural bending and adhesive jumps of hair fibers.
- Hair fiber elasticity was calibrated using resonant frequencies.
- A custom automated apparatus measured thousands of hair-hair contacts.
- Confocal laser profilometry measured hair surface topography.
Main Results:
- A broad, spatially variant distribution of adhesion forces (1-1000 nN) was measured for both clean and treated hair.
- Measured adhesion forces showed good agreement with forces modeled from surface topography.
- Adhesion is primarily governed by the hair cuticle's surface structure and local mean curvature.
Conclusions:
- Hair-hair adhesion is largely determined by the microscopic surface structure of the hair cuticle.
- Haircare products can potentially control hair adhesion by altering surface microstructure.
- Further research into targeted microstructure modification could enhance haircare product efficacy.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Hair Cells
44.5K
Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
44.5K
01:16Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
4.3K
Hair and hair follicles are integral components of the integumentary system. Hair is a filamentous structure composed mainly of a protein called keratin. It is found on the surface of the skin throughout the body, except for areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
4.3K
01:20Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types
2.3K
Hair growth begins with the production of keratinocytes by the basal cells of the hair bulb. As new cells are deposited at the hair bulb, the hair shaft is pushed through the follicle toward the surface. Keratinization is completed as the cells are pushed to the skin surface to form the shaft of hair that is externally visible. The external hair is completely dead and composed entirely of keratin. Hair can be cut or shaven without damaging the hair structure because the cut is superficial. Most...
2.3K
01:14Adhesion
43.6K
Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
43.6K
01:48Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
59.4K
Skeletal muscles continuously produce ATP to provide the energy that enables muscle contractions. Skeletal muscle fibers can be categorized into three types based on differences in their contraction speed and how they produce ATP, as well as physical differences related to these factors. Most human muscles contain all three muscle fiber types, albeit in varying proportions.
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
59.4K
01:14Cell Adhesion in Plants
3.3K
Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose,...
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose,...
3.3K