Lecture Notes: Testing Heat Protectants on Receipt Paper

Introduction

• Presenter: Michelle, Chemistry PhD and hair enthusiast.
• Focus: Evaluating the viral trend of testing hair heat protectants using receipt paper.

Background

• Viral Test: Influencers and brands testing heat protectants on receipt paper.
• Purpose: Determine if receipts can indicate the effectiveness of heat protectants.
• Initial Assumption: Receipts change color with heat due to the reaction of receipt ink.

Methodology

• Testing Process:
  • Control: Test receipt with no product.
  • Variables: Various heat protectants applied to receipts.
  • Tools: Hair straightener set to 340°F.
• Models in Science:
  • Importance of using models similar to real objects being tested.

Observations

• Initial Tests:
  • Differing colors on receipts with varying amounts of heat protectants.
  • Water and products possibly keeping receipts lighter by absorbing heat.
• Drying Tests:
  • Importance of drying time before testing.
  • Products with more water or applied thickly show lighter results.

Analysis

• Temperature Findings:
  • Receipts change color between 40-80°C.
  • Most receipts turn black around 95°C.
• Receipt and Hair Temperature:
  • Hair damage occurs nearer to 100°C.
  • Receipts changing color at lower temperatures limits test relevance.

Further Experiments

• Testing with Water and Alcohol:
  • Water's role in cooling and holding temperature.
  • Alcohol’s ability to dissolve ink.
• Surfactants and Adhesives: Uses in Testing
  • Surfactants can dissolve oily layers on receipts.
  • Adhesives keep receipts white by hindering ink reaction.

Conclusions

• Ineffectiveness of Receipt Test:
  • Tests primarily show ink dissolving ability rather than protectant effectiveness.
  • The presence of alcohol and surfactants affect receipt colors.
  • Real effectiveness should be tested on actual hair.
• Effective Heat Protectants:
  • Look for brands with proper testing and ingredients like silicones, polymers, and hydrolyzed proteins.

Reflections

• Challenges:
  • Complexities in testing and analyzing results.
  • Misleading nature of simplified viral tests.
• Future Research:
  • Potential studies on actual hair with scientific methodologies.

Conclusion

• This experiment illustrated the complexity of determining the effectiveness of heat protectants using unconventional methods.
• The lecture emphasized the importance of appropriate testing environments and scientific rigor in product evaluation.

• Note: The video aims to condense extensive research into short social media content.