Could a microscope hold the key to hair loss solution?
- By Susan Whitford
- Published 21st September, 2008
- Hair News
- Unrated
Susan Whitford
Susan Whitford has twelve years experience as a health and beauty journalist in the United Kingdom. Susan has worked as a staff writer and features editor on a number of consumer magazines.
New technology has been developed that could potentially lead to hair loss prevention strategies.
The technology involves a new approach to hair imaging. A tool has been developed which analyses how individual fibres of hair interact at a microscopic level. This could lead to discoveries about why hair feels different to the touch. In turn, this could enable cosmetics companies to design and manufacture products that repair damaged hair and prevent hair loss.
The system has already been put into practice to highlight reasons why hair often feels rough and difficult to comb.
Even though the global market for hair loss and hair care products is worth about £30 billion, the science on which such products are based is fairly rudimentary. Eva Max, a PhD student in chemistry at the University of Bayreuth in Germany, which is leading the research, said: "There's a growing need to make hair feel more natural. However, researchers are still scrambling to put hair care on a firm scientific footing.
"For the first time, we present an experimental set-up that allows measuring the subtle forces, both physical and chemical, that arise when single hairs slide past each other or are pressed against each other."
The technology is based on haptics - the science of touch - and aims to facilitate more effective hair care products so that distressing conditions such as hair loss can be avoided.
The technology involves a new approach to hair imaging. A tool has been developed which analyses how individual fibres of hair interact at a microscopic level. This could lead to discoveries about why hair feels different to the touch. In turn, this could enable cosmetics companies to design and manufacture products that repair damaged hair and prevent hair loss.
The system has already been put into practice to highlight reasons why hair often feels rough and difficult to comb.
Even though the global market for hair loss and hair care products is worth about £30 billion, the science on which such products are based is fairly rudimentary. Eva Max, a PhD student in chemistry at the University of Bayreuth in Germany, which is leading the research, said: "There's a growing need to make hair feel more natural. However, researchers are still scrambling to put hair care on a firm scientific footing.
"For the first time, we present an experimental set-up that allows measuring the subtle forces, both physical and chemical, that arise when single hairs slide past each other or are pressed against each other."
The technology is based on haptics - the science of touch - and aims to facilitate more effective hair care products so that distressing conditions such as hair loss can be avoided.