Imagine if you could go from blonde to brunette with just one sweep of a hair-straightener and without using any hair-dye.
Thanks to engineers at the Los Alamos National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico, that’s no longer just a pipe dream.
They’ve invented a device, which looks remarkably similar to hair straighteners and uses focused ion beam technology to etch patterns onto each strand of hair.
Those patterns reflect light in such a way that the hair appears to change colour – to blonde, brunette, or even multi-coloured if you like.
The device has been 5 years in development and has already been tested on black, brown and blonde hair, with brown locks proving the most susceptible to the new technology (see, brunettes do have more fun).
It could allow those who like to experiment with different shades the chance to create bespoke hair colours, or patterns, taking the trend for hair stencils to the next level.
And it’s perfect for anyone who is unable to use hair dye due to allergies or skin sensitivities.
The effect could either be permanent or semi-permanent, according to creator Professor Leseman, who says one way to do is: ‘to make the pattern directly onto your hair…and that would be more of a permanent change until it grows out.’
The alternative would be to create a conditioner type product, a ‘kind of polymer coating for your hair’, he says, which could then be easily washed out.
Anyone fancy going blonde for the night?
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Source: Metro.co.uk