On June 6 and 7, Natura's scientific manager, Carla Scanavez, attended the 8th International Applied Hair Science Conference, which focuses on high-tech scientific work related to hair care. “This event, which takes place every two years, brings together scientists from around the world who come to share research and new discoveries in the field of hair,” highlights Carla Scanavez.
In its eighth edition, the conference highlighted work on new measurement techniques for studying hair fibers. Within this theme, Scanavez was selected to present to the scientific elite in hair research the work “Images of Human Hair Using X-ray Microtomography: A Study of Hair Cortex Porosity,” developed in collaboration with Natura's research team. “In a groundbreaking study, we compared healthy hair and hair damaged by chemical treatments using this technique, allowing us to diagnose, measure, and locate deep damage in the hair cortex and thus understand how to repair this damage,” says Natura's scientific manager.
To better understand, the techniques currently available for the quantitative assessment of hair damage still cannot provide a high-resolution 3D image of the strands, which would be essential for obtaining structural information regarding these damages, such as porosity. In this context, Natura's research team sought alternatives to more deeply quantify the benefits of hair care products on damaged strands.
With the support of researchers from USP, the solution found was the use of X-ray microtomography technique. With this tool, Natura's research team was able to identify variations of up to 7 times in hair porosity before and after chemical treatments, representing an essential advancement for new research in the area.
“This research has given us a new perspective on the porosity of hair cortex, and now we are expanding the study to other hair types, such as curly and coily, as well as other types of damage. Our goal is to understand how each hair type behaves in the face of a specific damage and propose the best solution for the real needs of each hair type,” concludes Scanavez.
