The science behind hair
Solving real hair problems with innovative engineering.
The hair lifecycle
- 7 Lifespan of a hair in years
- 100 Up to 100 hair strands are lost each day
- 150,000 There can be as many as 150,000 hairs on a human head
Science, not guesswork
At Dyson, we want to know everything there is to know about hair. We're obsessed with the science behind hair and use it to engineer our technology. No guesswork, no gimmicks, just tried and tested science.
Avoiding exposure to excessive heat with Dyson technology.
What your hair type means for you
Understanding your hair type can help you learn how to define and take care of your hair – and choose the best technology for you. We can roughly categorise 'hair shape' into four main groups. Each is then split into three subtypes – A, B, C – to describe the intensity of the curl pattern, with ‘A’ being the looser shape.
-
Type 1 A, B, C
Straight to wavy hair. Straighter hair has a round cross-sectional area. This hair type can require washing more regularly than other types of hair to avoid a build-up of oils.
-
Type 2 A, B, C
Wavy to curly hair. Type 2 hair is often described as a wavy ’S’ shape with a round cross-sectional area, but is flatter than type 1 hair. This hair type also requires regular washing as oil can progress down the hair strand more easily.
-
Type 3 A, B, C
Curly hair with tighter ringlets. Curly hair can suffer from dryness due to a lack of sebum across the hair shaft. It’s important not to use excessive heat when styling, and retaining as much natural oil as possible is crucial.
-
Type 4 A, B, C
Curly to coily hair. Type 4 hair has a flatter, more ellipsoid shape to form tight coils. These can tangle more easily, and be fragile when exposed to excessive heat. Type 4 hair can also be washed less regularly.
Hair density vs hair thickness
Hair thickness can be made up of two factors – density and strand width. Density is the amount of strands you have, while width is the thickness of the strand.
If you're not sure what strand width your hair is, take a piece and rub between two fingers. If it feels like cotton, your hair is coarse. If you can barely feel it, your hair is fine.
Avoiding exposure to excessive heat
-
Maintaining scalp health
Dyson's Intelligent heat control helps protect the scalp barrier from excessive heat. Helping to maintain your scalp's moisture levels when styling.
-
Retaining moisture
Excessive heat can make hair more porous – meaning it can gain or lose water easily. The imbalance can weaken hair and reduce style retention.
-
Preventing breakage
Overexposure to excessive temperatures can weaken the bonds in the hair. Losing strength and elasticity over time can make it more prone to breakage.
-
Maintaining shine
Hair can look dull, if damaged, as a result of cuticles lifting and scattering light. But when hair is healthy and aligned, it reflects light evenly – appearing shiny.