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A Comparison of Macroscopic and Microscopic Hair Color Measurements and a Quantification of the Relationship between Hair Color and Thickness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

Michelle R. Vaughn ,
Elizabeth Brooks ,
Roland A.H. van Oorschot  and
Swati Baindur-Hudson
Michelle R. Vaughn*
Affiliation:
School of Molecular Sciences, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Elizabeth Brooks
Affiliation:
Forensic and Technical, Australian Federal Police, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Roland A.H. van Oorschot
Affiliation:
Victorian Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod, VIC, Australia
Swati Baindur-Hudson
Affiliation:
School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: michelle.vaughn@live.vu.edu.au
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Abstract

Microscopic images of hair from 36 individuals were evaluated for color (using the CIE L*a*b* color space), hair thickness, and the pattern of pigmentation. These measurements were compared to each other and to reflective spectrophotometric measurements of macroscopic hair color. Three areas on three strands of hair were examined for each individual. Despite a large ΔE* value, there is a strong relationship between macroscopic and microscopic L* values that would be useful if one was trying to predict the color of a head of hair (macroscopic) from a strand (microscopic). A relationship between hair lightness (L*) and thickness is also found at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. The information acquired in this study may be useful to those conducting a microscopic examination of hair, especially in forensic science, as well as those researchers investigating macroscopic hair color and hair morphology for the purposes of forensic science, anthropology, and medical science. Further investigation into objectively measuring and quantifying the microscopic color and properties of hair will assist in increasing its validity as evidence in forensic casework.

Keywords

forensichairhair colormicroscopic hairmacroscopic hairhair thickness
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , June 2009 , pp. 189 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2009

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References

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