On the correlation between the curvature of the human eyelash and its geometrical features.

Although human eyelashes are generally curved, the cause of the natural curvature of eyelashes has not yet to be clarified elsewhere. Related with this, this paper reports our discovery of a correlation between the curvature of the eyelash and its geometrical features. Eyelashes can be divided into root, middle and tip sections. Because the curvature at the root is larger than that at the tip, we expected that the root section could be more easily deformed by bending compared with the tip section. However, the structural elasticity in bending, which is the flexural rigidity without depending on the external dimensions, at the root was found to be greater than that at the tip, contrary to our initial expectations. Next we examined the internal dimensions of cross sections of the eyelashes, and found that the thicknesses of the cuticle layer at the root were different for the convex and concave sides of the curved eyelash, although these were almost the same at the tip. Theoretical analysis of this variation in thickness of the outer cuticle layer shows that this displaces the neutral axis. Finally, we found that there is a good correlation between the displacement of the neutral axis and the curvature of the eyelash. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Why are human eyelashes naturally curved? To find a hint for this question, the mechanical and geometrical properties of human eyelash were investigated. Although the curvature at the root of the eyelash was larger than that at the tip, this was not related to the deformability of the eyelash by bending. From the cross-sectional observation of eyelash, we noticed that the thickness of the outer cuticle layer was non-uniform depending on the position, and this brought the displacement of the neutral axis of the eyelash for bending. Finally, a good correlation between the curvature and the change in the neutral axis was discovered. With practically using this findings, the curvature of the eyelash might be controlled artificially in the future.

Internal structure changes of eyelash induced by eye makeup.

To investigate how eye makeup affects eyelash structure, internal structure of eyelashes were observed with a scanning X-ray microscopic tomography system using synchrotron radiation light source. Eyelash samples were obtained from 36 Japanese women aged 20-70 years and whose use of eye makeup differed. Reconstructed cross-sectional images showed that the structure of the eyelash closely resembled that of scalp hair. The eyelash structure is changed by use of eye makeup. There was a positive correlation between the frequency of mascara use and the degree of cracking in cuticle. The positive correlation was also found between the frequency of mascara use and the porosity of the cortex. By contrast, the use of eyelash curler did not affect the eyelash structure with statistical significance.

The effect of cationic polymer treatment on adhesion of iron oxide to eyelashes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iron oxide application on improving the volume of eyelashes. Iron oxide, having a negative surface charge in its natural form, was coated with commercial cationic polymers to increase its adhesion. The iron oxides coated with different types and concentrations of these polymers were incorporated into a basic mascara formula to test their volume effects by means of the weight difference of eyelashes.The results indicated that the type and concentration of coating materials affect the surface zeta potential and particle cluster size of iron oxides. The type of cationic polymer, especially, was shown to modify both factors of iron oxide. The obtained results also suggested that the volume effect of mascara increases with a higher positive surface zeta potential and a smaller particle cluster size of the coated iron oxides.