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

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter SAZAR
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physics
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
Sign up Log in
7 replies · 5K views
SAZAR
Messages
200
Reaction score
0
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
 
Physics news on Phys.org


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!
 
Last edited by a moderator: