(for wigs) 3D printing of lifelike hair fibers

[lacazette]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/29/3d-printing-hair-is-as-easy-as-using-a-hot-glue-gun/

"Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have devised an ingenious method for creating lifelike hair fibers the only requires a common, inexpensive fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer. The technique is surprisingly simple"

"the resulting product is reportedly quite lifelike and can be styled just like the real thing. Plus, depending on how densely the fibers are packed and their positioning, they can potentially be used in a variety of applications -- from hairpieces to toothbrush bristles."



Well we need a real hair cure of course, but if nothing success to come out, I Wonder if a thing like this could be part of a solution in future. Maybe if they built a bio membrane surrouding the base of the hair, so that they can be transplanted without any immune reaction like 3D bones materials, things like this
or not transplanted, but built a micro base of the hair, base that will glue naturally to the scalp and stay few weeks

Progress like this will be the future of hairpieces, though I really hope that hairpieces have no future soon x)

[allTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

This is a bit like an idea I've been thinking about for a while but never bothered posting about as I assumed it'd be immediately shot down. It doesn't seem crazy to me to think that it might be easier to try and print some sort of biologically compatible 'socket' that could hold hair and be transplanted into the scalp. Maybe a structure where the outer layer of skin turns in on itself, creating a little chamber all lined with that outer skin layer just below the level of the normal skin surface, that could hold a bulb of synthetic hair.

[polios]

Perhaps it would be forth to speculate about something like this. I believe that the whole nano technology will bring soon bring an invention that will be the next new invention since the microchip that will bring us huge advancements in health and technology.

[barfacan]

yeah but would it grow?

[baldybald]

No

[barfacan]

then its garbage.

[Vox]

yeah but would it grow?

No, and this is the fundamental issue with such an approach.

[nameless]

then its garbage.

I disagree.

If they could do what he's suggesting it would be sought after by everyone missing hair. Yes, it would be fake hair but it would eliminate the base that the hair is put into so it would eliminate the wig look to the product. it would be a big BIG seller if it could be done. But I don't think that it's possible. It would come out with combing or if someone tugged on your hair or maybe even if someone just ran her hands through your hair.

[ShookOnes]

then its garbage.

as is your post. you don't think there are people out there that would pay to rock the buzed norwood 0 look?

[GNX]

glorified wig! no thanx!

[barfacan]

It's garbage because it's not at the level of technological advancement that we'd expect to come out in 2016+

It's like going backwards.

Garbage.

[lacazette]

for me the growing problem is one if you have still good hair on top and not high Norwood.(though not that big pbm)
But it's clearly not a one if you have to choose between the balding look and having a full Nw0.
You could put some cm length on top you want and just cut the sides when you need


I think the socket Allgoodname' is describing could be invented before a commercially available cure

they are already bioprinting cartilage, bone, skin, and other tissues with the own cells of a patient. So a bio printed 'socket' made with our own cells is possible and would solve the immune rejection problem
But yeah it's quite weird project hehe

[polios]

I would not call it complete garbage but call it "smart wig". If it would look real and had better feel on you head than some average wig than it would be really an option for me, too. There is definitely a market our there for something like this and I would not say it is backwards. This was only possible due to some advancement in science and technology and there will be some technology that will build on that.

[Dimoxynil]

Bottom line if it looked and felt real you would have to consider it wouldn't you ?

A wig can blow off in the wind. This is very different

[Arieux]

A wig can blow off in the wind. This is very different

Not true, modern hair systems with proper attachements can't be blown off by the wind, lol.