ABSTRACT
The properties of curly hair from different countries were assessed using geometrical measurements from a laser scanning micrometer and a new hair shape classification method. In addition, tensile tests, 2-D gel electrophoresis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed. Results concluded that hair characteristics are influenced by the degree of curl. For example, curlier hair tended to be more fragile. Interestingly, the degree of curl in hair also was dependent upon the country of origin. DSC and 2-D gel electrophoresis showed that the thermal behavior and the protein markers in hair differed as a function of hair origin. The variability seen in hair characteristics may potentially influence how the hair responds to treatment and these differences could be caused by regional and cultural diversities in the population from where the hair originated.
