Now, the question is how to make it thin without reaching that temperature...

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of how to make human hair thin at the tip while ensuring it remains rooted to the skin. Participants explore various methods, including mechanical, thermal, and chemical approaches, without causing damage to the skin.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that stretching hair could be a method to achieve thinning, citing the tensile strength of hair.
  • Another participant counters that stretching hair may not be effective, sharing personal experience of hair breaking when stretched.
  • A proposal is made to explore chemical solutions, specifically looking into substances that could dissolve keratin without affecting the skin.
  • Discussion includes the possibility of stripping off the hair cuticle as a method to thin the hair.
  • Heat is mentioned as a potential method, with references to the melting point of keratin and comparisons to the behavior of melted cheese.
  • Participants share links to external resources regarding the melting point of hair and keratin-dissolving agents.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of stretching hair, with some supporting it and others arguing against it. There is no consensus on the best method to achieve the desired thinning of hair.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the problem, particularly the need to avoid damaging the skin while applying various methods to the hair. The discussion includes references to the dependence of hair's melting point on moisture content, indicating variability in outcomes.

SAZAR
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Unusual physics question :)

How to make a hair which is still properly rooted to skin (any hair, not just on head) become very thin at the end?
(gradual thinning toward the tip)

:D

How would you approach this physical problem - by applying mechanical force (stretching it, or abrading it, or cutting it at some small angle?? is that possible at all...), by treating it thermally, chemically or maybe some other (possibly ingenious) way?

The only rule is that it must stay rooted to skin (generally no damage to the skin). :D
 
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go to a hair salon.
 


im being serious. if you are looking for a chemical solution to your answer, the best bet for you is to go and ask them. stretching hair does not work very well. and i know this because when i try to stretch my hair, it breaks
 


dacruick said:
im being serious. if you are looking for a chemical solution to your answer, the best bet for you is to go and ask them. stretching hair does not work very well. and i know this because when i try to stretch my hair, it breaks

It breaks, but first it gets thin - right?

As I said: "The only rule is that it must stay rooted to skin (generally no damage to the skin)."
I think chemicals would affect the skin as well (the only way to avoid that is to apply chemical to the hair ONLY).

Tricky.

Andy Resnick said:
Figure out a way to strip off the cuticle: does anything dissolve keratin?

http://www.pgbeautygroomingscience.com/index.php?id=685
Yea'. I typed "dissolve keratin" and it said: http://www.skintreatmentcream.com/enzymatic/

What about heat?
I googled this:
("heat melt keratin" resulted in "keratin melting pot" - I guess glue made from animal ...stuff)
http://toccohair.en.ec21.com/Keratine_Melting_Pots--1820747_1820767.html
(someone already posed this question)
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_melting_point_of_keratin

It would be cool if hair acts similar to plastic (sort of like when you stretch melted cheese). :B
 
Last edited:


What is the...

...ah - there it is:

http://www.webanswers.com/science/at-what-temperature-does-hair-melt-269dba

("At what temperature does hair melt?

Depends on the moisture content of the hair. Dry human hair will melt at around 205 degrees C (401 F), and with a moisture content of 20%, around 155 C (311 F).")

So it is possible!
 
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