title: Current research on ethnic hair.
abstract: This study collected qualitative and quantitative data about the morphology, structure, geometry, water swelling, and mechanical properties of hair fibers from subjects of different ethnic origins. X-ray analysis, cross-sectional measurements, tensile testing, and water swelling were performed on samples of hair collected from Caucasian, Asian, and African subjects. No differences in the intimate structures of fibers were observed among these 3 types of hairs, whereas geometry, mechanical properties, and water swelling differed according to ethnic origin. In addition, the behavior of hair fiber under mechanical stress was visualized with environmental scanning electron microscopy.
authors.affiliation: L'Oréal Recherche, Clichy, France. afranbourg@recherche.loreal.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franbourg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hallegot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baltenneck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toutain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leroy
mesh_terms: D005006:Ethnicity; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D044469:Racial Groups; D013718:Tensile Strength