A study of the human hair structure with a Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscope

We have observed the internal structure of human hair shafts with a transmission Zernike phase contrast hard X-ray microscope. Due to the high spatial resolution and the high contrast of the microscope, we could image scales, macrofibrils, medulla and melanin without staining. The structure of a black hair shaft is compared with that of a white one