Hair Microscopy - vintage 1930's microscope (pic heavy)

[Rosa Harris]

Last night photography project using my hair and a vintage microscope - I think the results look cool. I also had a hard time actually finding damaged strands in my hair fall. In one way that was great but I really wanted other examples of types of damage in this photo series. Oh well, maybe have to visit a beauty shop for other folks chops.

This microscope uses only mirrors for lighting the specimine whic is where the weird low-light look comes from. In person much more detail is visible. I like the vintage look of the pics tho - no photoshop or filters here. I did trim the pics in photoshop and add the text, of course.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14182865876_09c3c61c9c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nBhTUh)microhair 038 (https://flic.kr/p/nBhTUh) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/14182862196_ca69f30abb.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nBhSNQ)microhair 036 (https://flic.kr/p/nBhSNQ) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/14019324148_108140a2f5.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nmQGDj)microhair 032 (https://flic.kr/p/nmQGDj) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5078/14019391217_c99f06cb55.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nmR3zF)microhair 030 (https://flic.kr/p/nmR3zF) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/14226126483_67a78f020c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nF7BLP)microhair 026 (https://flic.kr/p/nF7BLP) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/14205982645_d36cecd2bc.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nDknHg)microhair 022 (https://flic.kr/p/nDknHg) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14205976735_8c9342d5de.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nDkkXn)microhair 020 (https://flic.kr/p/nDkkXn) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5235/14202670141_f310486911.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nD3p28)microhair 019 (https://flic.kr/p/nD3p28) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14205970505_e6f317b5fc.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nDkj6X)microhair 018 (https://flic.kr/p/nDkj6X) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2916/14203478342_c1439a8b19.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nD7xgC)microhair 013 (https://flic.kr/p/nD7xgC) by rosarl13 (https://www.flickr.com/people/121893704@N04/), on Flickr

[jacqueline101]

That's neat I'm glad you shared your pictures.

[shinyred]

that's so cool :)
it's nice you can see the difference between henna'd hair and normal hair.

[spidermom]

Thank you for sharing those.

[Rosa Harris]

I'm always looking for something different to do with a camera

[mira-chan]

Very cool! I love old microscopes. <3
I work with something a bit more modern. I posed some of these before in another thread but here you go.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/mum2.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/mum22.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/fineblondvscoarsedarkroots-1.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/meapr09end.jpg

[Rosa Harris]

Very cool! I love old microscopes. <3
I work with something a bit more modern. I posed some of these before in another thread but here you go.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/mum2.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/mum22.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/fineblondvscoarsedarkroots-1.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g30/kitsunethief/microscope/meapr09end.jpg

I would love to play with something like that! THis one I inherited recently along with some old medical books that belonged to my Grandpa. I played with it as a kid quite a bit, too. When I was 12 he had me take a sample of my dad's gout and go to th ebooks and figure out what I was looking at - white crystaline substance and so on - it was fun.

[mira-chan]

I would love to play with something like that! THis one I inherited recently along with some old medical books that belonged to my Grandpa. I played with it as a kid quite a bit, too. When I was 12 he had me take a sample of my dad's gout and go to th ebooks and figure out what I was looking at - white crystaline substance and so on - it was fun.
I played with something like you have as a kid. Dad gave me an old microscope. It was an amazing present. Also if you find yourself heading to my area of the world, tell me. I can show you mine then. :D

[Johannah]

That's so cool!

[Avis]

Very cool, thanks for sharing! I love how the damaged hairs look like frayed rope.

[jel]

It's fascinating, comparing old and new technology! Thank you both for sharing :)

[meteor]

Awesome stuff! :) Thanks so much for posting, guys! :D
I wish I could find pictures of hair pre- and post-cassia and pre- and post-protein treatment under a microscope. I wonder if the thickness of hair strands would visibly change in microscopic images, like it does with henna.

[mira-chan]

Awesome stuff! :) Thanks so much for posting, guys! :D
I wish I could find pictures of hair pre- and post-cassia and pre- and post-protein treatment under a microscope. I wonder if the thickness of hair strands would visibly change in microscopic images, like it does with henna.

If you want to send some to me, I can take pictures and post them. :D

[meteor]

If you want to send some to me, I can take pictures and post them. :D

Thank you so much, mira-chan! :D I don't do cassia yet (I just want to try it), but somebody who uses cassia on their hair would probably be happy to see microscopic pictures of their hair strands. Mira-chan, have you ever tried looking at your hair under a microscope after different conditioners or herbs that you use? It would be great to know if some things result in visible changes. I know the effect from ph is visible (lifted, rough cuticles in very alkaline environment), and I know oil is visible (looks like a film), but I don't know about different conditioning agents.

[mira-chan]

I have not. I've done the microscopy pictures of my hair only a couple of times along with that of others. I have not done herb treatments in a while since pipes in the new place do not agree with herbs nor does my schedules usually, or it's been too cold to to have wet hair for longer or more often than I have to. I can look at hair sent to me though.

[meteor]

I can look at hair sent to me though.
Wow! :D That's really generous of you! I'm sure lots of people would love to see microscopic pictures of their hair, as it's the first step of any hair analysis.

[Rosa Harris]

Wow! :D That's really generous of you! I'm sure lots of people would love to see microscopic pictures of their hair, as it's the first step of any hair analysis.

I've been looking for information on how to do that kind of analysis - for real - not the health evaluation quackery which is all I can ind outside forensic analysis (which is extreemly interesting but not that helpful for the living)

any links anyone?

[MINAKO]

Very interesting, i would so love to take a look on my hair from that perspective as well.

[Charybdis]

You guys might enjoy the world's smallest comic strip (http://boingboing.net/2014/05/05/comic-strip-etched-into-a-huma.html). (Seriously, this is amazing.)

[meteor]

I've been looking for information on how to do that kind of analysis - for real - not the health evaluation quackery which is all I can ind outside forensic analysis (which is extreemly interesting but not that helpful for the living)

any links anyone?

Sure! :)
Komaza Personalized Hair Analysis:
Overview: http://www.komazahaircare.com/personal-hair-analysis.htm
Sample Report: http://www.komazahaircare.com/sample-report

GoosefootPrints Hair Analysis:
http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/158218594/hair-analysis-physical-properties-of?ref=shop_home_active_1
And mini hair physical analysis (sample report): http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/165203245/mini-hair-physical-analysis?ref=shop_home_active_2

And there was an LHC thread where LHC-ers posted their reviews and what was included in the reports: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=120738

[Rosa Harris]

Would like to find out how to actually do this analysis process and do it correctly. I have looked into extensive FBI lab forensic science info about hair analysis (really fun - its amazing what you can get from trace evidence) but it never relates the info back to hair care - other than past hair care - because your clients are turnin up daisies and not worried about their locks.

[cathair]

Your pictures are awesome! Can I ask how you took the photos when using an old microscope? Did you need a special camera lens? I have an old microscope, I had no idea you could do that!

[cathair]

You guys might enjoy the world's smallest comic strip (http://boingboing.net/2014/05/05/comic-strip-etched-into-a-huma.html). (Seriously, this is amazing.)

Wow, that' nuts! Very cool, but not on my hair please :D

[mira-chan]

Would like to find out how to actually do this analysis process and do it correctly. I have looked into extensive FBI lab forensic science info about hair analysis (really fun - its amazing what you can get from trace evidence) but it never relates the info back to hair care - other than past hair care - because your clients are turnin up daisies and not worried about their locks.
Most of that analysis is not done by microscopy. Some treatments such as dye, handling, hair type (curly straight, etc.) and some severe poisoning/nutrition deficiencies show up in the visible physical structure. For the rest they do chemical analysis for elements, probably with something like a mass spectrometer. If they have a root of the hair then they can do DNA analysis.


Your pictures are awesome! Can I ask how you took the photos when using an old microscope? Did you need a special camera lens? I have an old microscope, I had no idea you could do that!
If you align a regular camera to the eyepiece just right you can take pictures. it's just difficult to find the right angle at first and you have to hold it real steady.

[cathair]

Most of that analysis is not done by microscopy. Some treatments such as dye, handling, hair type (curly straight, etc.) and some severe poisoning/nutrition deficiencies show up in the visible physical structure. For the rest they do chemical analysis for elements, probably with something like a mass spectrometer. If they have a root of the hair then they can do DNA analysis.


If you align a regular camera to the eyepiece just right you can take pictures. it's just difficult to find the right angle at first and you have to hold it real steady.

I would never have guessed that is possible. I am going to have to give it a try, thanks very much for explaining :)

[gthlvrmx]

Thank you for posting this! It looks awesome! :) The henna hair looks great!

[AutobotsAttack]

Dude that's amazing!!! It's pretty cool how we see something so small as out hair up close :)

[starshade]

Thank you for this post. The pictures are quite fascinating. Amazing to see the actual physical effects of henna up close!