What if you could alter your hair to reflect any colour in the
spectrum? It may soon become a reality! New research suggests
individuals can alter their hair colour and use a flatiron to press a
new hair pattern.
Researchers at the University of New Mexico and Los Alamos
National Labs collaborated on the use of focused ion beam technologies
and the way they can be used to pattern different materials.
Their research explores a way to etch diffraction gratings on individual hairs to reflect light in a specific way.
New research suggests individuals can alter their hair colour and use a flatiron to press a new hair pattern.
The project began in 2009 when Bruce C Lamartine disclosed an
invention for non-chemical directional colouring of hair using milled or
impressed nanopatterns. Lamartine and Zayd C Leseman explored ion beam
etching on single strands of human hair.
Using Lamartine's ion beam control programmes, Leseman and his
graduate students Khawar Abbas and Drew Goettler began experimenting
with fine etching of the diffraction gratings which allowed them to
create patterns that reflected specific bandwidths of light depending on
how far apart the lines were, and how wide and deep they were.
The patterning technique proved to be most effective on brown
hair, and also produced results on blond and black hair. Researchers
speculate if someone wanted a permanent change in hair colour, they
might be able to use something like a flatiron to etch the diffraction
gratings into the hair.
The colour would depend on the portion of the light spectrum that
was reflected. Change paddles on the flatiron and change the colour, or
do special theatrical patterns in the hair, such as changing the
diffracted colour that the audience sees as an actress walks under a
spotlight.
"That's one way to do it, to make the pattern directly onto your
hair, your permanent hair and that would be more of a permanent change
until it grows out," Leseman said.
"The other idea was and still is to actually develop some kind of
conditioner. Some kind of polymer coating for your hair, and then when
you actually do the patterning with your flatiron that's specially
developed for this polymer coating, maybe low heat or something like
that.
"Then you could actually pattern the conditioner or the polymer
on your hair first. And then it would easily wash out if you wanted it
to go away, so that's not as permanent and as scary," said Leseman.
There are many other potential uses for the technology. It might
be used as an information security feature on credit card readers or
could be used to identify friend from foe in confusing situations.
The researchers said it could also be used to defend against
potential terror attacks on civilian airplanes by making them invisible
to the laser sights on missiles. The research was published in the
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications.
