Hair and Fiber Activity (Friday December 2 2011)

For this activity, our goal was to analyze various hair samples by writing down their characteristics (such as, color, condition, and their features). We analyzed 6 different hairs, 4 types of fibers by placing them under a microscope and observing their characteristics.Also, we compared an African American male's hair to an Asian American's hair under the video microscope:
The purpose of this activity is to understand how to analyze a hair properly.

Hairs:

1. Dog Hair

Color: Black

Condition: smooth

Features: scaly, railroad shape, trimmed.

2. African American Hair

Color: Brown

Condition: smooth and curly

Features: scaly, frayed, railroad shape

3. Synthetic Hair:

Color: Black

Condition: Smooth

Features: frayed edge, solid black.

4. Asian Hair:
Color: Black
Condition: Smooth and Sleek
Features: railroad shape, cut edge.

5. Color Treated Caucasian Hair:
Color: blonde/gold
Condition: fine and smooth
Features:railroad shape, cut,

6: Cat Hair
Color: Black
Condition: Smooth, Frayed shaft
Features: ends at a sharp point, no railroad shape.

Fibers:

1. Cotton
Color: white
Condition: very frayed
Features: helix shape 

2. Wool:
Color: Black
Condition: Frayed and messy
Features: Very dense and thick

3. Silk
Color: Blue
Condition: neatly woven and smooth
Features: the edges are very frayed

4. Nylon
Color: Tan/ light brown
Condition: very orderly woven
Features: edges fray out. 

Video Microscope Comparison (African and Asian Hair):