A Morphological Study of Restoration of Damaged Hair Fiber With Chemical Treatments Using Microscopy Techniques

This paper analyses hair restoration products currently on the market that treat chemically processed hair. This study measured the restoration of structural integrity in hair samples from both chemically damaged hair (chemically relaxed, bleached, and chemically color-treated) and virgin hair. Hair samples were exposed to two hair restoration products (low- and high-cost), formulated with ingredients from two different price points. This analysis is essential because of the challenges in finding scientific information on treatment protocols for processes that can damage hair. The effectiveness of these treatments was evaluated by assessing the structural damage caused by the chemical processes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicated that chemical processes alter Keratin's conformation, resulting in detrimental effects on the hair fiber. The cumulative impact of these processes chemically and physically modifies the hair's structure. The findings revealed that the most effective treatment was the High Cost (HC) product, which contains coconut oil and glycerol. This treatment was particularly effective for hair that had undergone significant degradation, particularly from bleaching followed by color treatment. Remarkably, this high-cost (HC) product produced a higher level of morphological restoration than expected, even aiding in the recovery of cuticular cells.