Use rubber gloves when dealing with harsh chemicals. Adult supervision recommended.
Project Time Frame
This project deals with the properties and practical uses of hair.
- To examine the effect of external influences (such as chemicals and environmental conditions) on human hair.
- To discover interesting new uses for hair.
- To assist in the development of improved hair-care products.
Materials and Equipment
- Hair samples from volunteers
- Various inexpensive chemical substances and food products
- Computer with internet access.
- Digital camera
- Magnifying glass
- Microscope (optional)
- Typical office/craft supplies (such as paper, pens & poster-board)
Why do we care about hair? We can live without it, yet it remains so important to us. We consider it a measure of human beauty, the color and texture and style of one’s hair. Even discarded human hair has many useful purposes. These experiments might teach us more.
- What are the various uses for human hair?
- What determines hair color?
- What causes changes in hair?
- Can hair predict the weather?
- How common are natural redheads?
- Why is hair considered so important in our society?
Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research
See bibliography below
- Read about hair (see bibliography).
- Recruit volunteers with all different types of hair.
- Collect several hair samples from each volunteer (a typical sample might be about ½” wide and 6” long).
- Securely tape samples to a display board.
- Leave one sample from each volunteer untouched, and record any changes in those samples over time.
- Expose other samples to various elements, such as bleach, oil, sunlight, or different types of hair care products. Use your imagination when selecting these materials.
- Photograph all samples over time (every 24 hours for 1-2 weeks) and record all noticeable changes in color, texture, etc.
- Attempt to rinse some samples and photograph them again.
- Analyze results.
- Interpret findings in a detailed report.
- Show results visually using charts and hair samples.
- Display relevant photos taken throughout the course of the experiment.