Monitoring hair surface chemical modifications using atomic force microscopy

Since the beginning of recorded time, humans have been developing ways to make themselves more beautiful or
otherwise change their appearance. The hair-care industry itself has a huge global economic power: its estimated total
value is $47B annually. However, beauty does not come without a price: methods currently being used for hair
colouring and styling damage hair greatly. More importantly, they involve treatments that have negative effects on
human and environmental health.
To reduce the toxicity of hair-care treatments, SLI Beauty is developing new hair-surface chemical modification
techniques. I have partnered with them to bring my expertise at biophysical characterization to assess the success of
these surface modifications, and to develop new treatment modalities. With dedicated time spent onsite in the SLI
Beauty labs, I have the opportunity to bring my critical skills to help develop marketable products for this expanding
company.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nancy Forde

Student:

Partner:

Salon Label Inc

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: