Abstract
Keratin fibers, such as those of human hair, undergo chemical damage, resulting in the production of sulfonate (-SO3-) groups ; this process is regarded as oxidative hair damage. This damage was measured with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer using a high pressure diamond anvil cell. This method could be used to measure chemical damage with only small samples of fiber. In this study, the relationship between the distance from the root end of hair and -SO3- content at the point was determined. The observed damage patterns indicated that the degree of oxidative hair damage depended on the frequency of permanent waving and the properties of hair. This technique may be applied to a forensic chemistry, including, for example, discrimination and presumption of personal hair history.
