Recent Progress in Hair Science and Trichology

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Cosmetic Science

Background:

• Human hair is vital for appearance and protection, primarily composed of proteins, pigments, water, and lipids.
• Despite over a century of study, the physicochemical properties of hair remain incompletely understood.
• Recent research offers new insights into hair's structure, ingredient delivery, and novel applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress in understanding hair's structural characteristics.
• To summarize findings on the delivery and distribution of active ingredients within hair.
• To introduce the emerging potential of hair as a substrate for flexible device fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, including Atomic Force Microscopy-Infrared Spectroscopy (AFM-IR), were used to investigate structural characteristics.
• Rheological measurements provided further insights into hair's physical properties.
• Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was employed to evaluate the distribution of active ingredients.

Main Results:

• Advanced techniques like AFM-IR and rheology have enhanced the understanding of hair's complex structure.
• NanoSIMS has enabled detailed mapping of active ingredient distribution within hair.
• Emerging research highlights hair's unique properties for potential use in flexible electronics.

Conclusions:

• A deeper understanding of hair's physicochemical properties has been achieved through recent advancements.
• The study of active ingredient delivery and distribution in hair has been significantly refined.
• Hair presents a promising, sustainable biomaterial for future technological applications, including flexible devices.