Student Resources
Baxter, Roberta. "Permanent Waves." ChemMatters, April 1993.
This article provides a simple but accurate discussion of the chemistry behind a hair perm. Diagrams clearly illustrate the chemical reactions that take place when hair undergoes a permanent wave.
Dombrink, Kathleen J., and David O. Tanis. "pH and Hair Shampoo." ChemMatters, April 2003.
This article describes how shampoos work.
Fruen, Louis. "Natural, Braided, Bleached, Colored, Straight." ChemMatters, October 2008.
This is an easy-to-understand article on the chemistry behind hair products and treatments popular with teenagers.
Gonick, Larry, and Craig Criddle. The cartoon guide to chemistry. New York: HarperResource, 2005.
This book explains chemistry concepts through simple and funny cartoon type illustrations.
Murphy, Pat. "Exploratorium Magazine: Hair." Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/hair/ (accessed July 16, 2011).
This online article provides an interesting discussion of the science behind bad hair days and how science/chemistry can be used to do away with common hair problems that teenagers usually face.
BASF The Chemical Company. "Podcast: How does conditioner make your hair soft? - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website." BASF Global - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website. http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/podcasts/chemical-reporter/conditioner (accessed July 13, 2011).
BASF The Chemical Company. "Podcast: What does actually take place when we color our hair? - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website." BASF Global - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website. http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/podcasts/chemical-reporter/hair-color (accessed July 13, 2011).
BASF The Chemical Company. "Podcast: What is the chemistry behind a permanent wave hairstyle? - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website." BASF Global - BASF - The Chemical Company - Corporate Website. http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/podcasts/chemical-reporter/perm (accessed July 13, 2011).
These 3-5 minute podcasts about hair products and treatments may be short but they provide good examples of how chemistry is part of students' every day life. Each podcast offers a simple explanation of how hair conditioners work and how chemicals change hair color and transform straight to curly hair.
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