Alteration of the zinc anc copper concentration of hair.

A washing and analytical procedure for the analysis of the zinc and copper concentrations of hair samples is described. The treatment of samples with nonionic detergent + EDTA wash removed the most adsorbed zinc anc copper from hair and was the washing procedure chosen for routine analyses. Beauty treatments had a variable effect on hair zinc and copper concentrations; the most drastic procedures were cold waving and bleaching; conditioner, hair spray, tint, and a permanent dye had a less drastic or no effect. Increasing distance of the hair from the scalp was associated with a regular increase in copper concentration and also increases in zinc concentration for most subjects.