All you long-haired hippy with greasy locks are a step ahead of the well-coifed when it comes to ozone pollution.
According to a new study by Lakshmi Pandrangi and Glenn Morrison from the University of Missouri in Rolla, on average, unwashed hair absorbed seven times the amount of ozone that washed hair did. Ground-level ozone causes breathing problems that can even affect your lifespan. The scientists say there is something about the hair oil that reacts with the ozone.
Of course, the researchers suggest a better solution is to reduce the amount of ozone pollution — especially indoors. What I want to know is what happens if you leave your bald pate unblemished by the wash cloth.
No word yet on what complicating effect doobie-smoke may have on the protective abilities of disgusting dreads.
Details about this barbershop biology are at The New Scientist, and other, more suspect experiments are taking place here.