Chemically altered hair has different properties than non-chemically altered hair, and even has different strength. To test this theory, obtain strands of hair from someone with untreated hair and someone who has permanently dyed, permed and chemically relaxed hair. Fasten these strands to a stand and properly mark the hairs. Tie a thin, un-sharpened fishing hook to the end of each strand. Test the strength of each hair by gently adding cubes of cheese cut into 1 ounce pieces to the hooks. Use a ruler to measure the length of the strands as you add the weights, charting each addition of weight and the length of the hairs after each addition until one of the hairs breaks. Continue this until you only have one hair left.
When introduced to chlorine in a pool, blond hair has a tendency to turn a greenish hue. Find out if chlorine weakens hair by obtaining two strands of chemically altered blond hair. Separate the strands, soaking one of the hairs in chlorinated pool water for 45 minutes. Remove the strand and chart this hair as strand "B." Chart the strand not placed into chlorinated water strand "A." Attach both hairs to a stand, and tie a thin, un-sharpened fishing hook to each hair. Carefully slip cubes of cheese cut into 1 ounce pieces onto both hooks, measuring the length of each hair after each addition of weight. Chart which of the hairs breaks first.
Shampoo cleans our hair of daily debris and the build-up of natural oil and styling products. But does shampoo always strengthen our hair, or do some make it weaker? Obtain strands of hair to soak in three or more different brands of shampoo. Choose popular brands of shampoo as well as generic brands. Soak one strand in each kind of shampoo for five minutes, then rinse the hairs, keeping them separate. Mark the strands according to the shampoo used, then attach each one to a stand. Tie a fishing hook on the other end of each hair, then gently add cubes of cheese cut into 1 ounce weights to each hook. Continue adding weight until each strand breaks. Record your results.
Throughout our lives, our hair takes on subtle, or even drastic, changes due to new styles, colors and cuts. As we age, we constantly grow new hair and lose older hair. Find out if your hair gains strength with age, or loses it over time. Collect hair samples from people at different stages of life; child, teenager, adult, middle aged and senior. Mark each hair according to the actual age of the person it was collected from. Next, attach the hair to a stand, and tie a thin fishing hook on the other end of each hair. Carefully add 1 ounce cubes of cheese to each hook, recording each time one of the strands breaks. Continue this until only one strand remains.