And they said it was all in our heads! Seems a bunch of German researchers took some hair samples and an atomic-force microscope and found a window into what’s happening on the teeniest, tiniest level when hair endures heat, cold, humidity, friction, and other everyday assaults. Apparently, no one’s ever done this before, which is weird because if I owned an atomic-force microscope, my hair would’ve been one of the first things I’d have looked at, right after boogers. Whoops, I mean skin. Point is: they learned all kinds of stuff. For instance, our hair is alive with electrical charges, that kinda give it a “mind” of its own. Little imperfections in hair fibers rub up against each other on a molecular level, generating static electricity. Both positive and negative charges build up along individual hair fibers, kinda turning them into little magnets. Hairs of opposite charge cling together while similarly-charged hairs pull away from each other. Your part suddenly switches sides? Your bangs go rogue? Science blames static and friction for your Bad Hair Day — these two effects are also responsible for those days hair seems to fall magically into place without coaxing. Now the race is on to crack the code, to find the ideal level of friction between hair fibers that equals the elusive Good Hair Day. Thanks, science! If you’re wondering why science cares, the hair products industry rakes in $60 billion worldwide — that’s a “b.” Buh-hillion.  This study, presented in Philadelphia in 2008 , was funded by BASF Care Chemicals Division, which produces hair color, relaxers and — surprise surprise! — styling agents. Should be interesting to see what develops. Link...

  link