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J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 26 299-313 (1975) ¸ 1955 Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Great Britain An appraisal of human head hair as forensic evidence J. PORTER* and C. FOUWEATHER-I' Synopsis--The evidential value of HUMAN HEAD HAIR in FORENSIC science is discussed. As well as basic techniques such as MORPHOLOGY and the identification of COSMETICS, an experiment to put the measurement of hair COLOUR on a less subjective basis, is described. Results show that with the techniques currently in use a definite method of relating a hair fibre to a particular individual is still not a reality, but, in cases of rare hair colour and the presence of cosmetic treatments, good discrimination can be achieved. INTRODUCTION At the present time the evidential value of hair in the forensic context is limited because no reliable means of characterization has yet been developed which allows the complete individualization of human hair (Simpson (1) Polson (2) Peterson, Haines and Webster (3)). This state of affairs is unsatisfactory as human hairs are often recovered from crimes of violence and many other serious crimes. The purpose of this review is to assess the present state of the available information, to discuss the results of recent work at the Home Office Central Research Establishment and finally to suggest possible lines of investigation. * Home Office Central Research Establishment, Aldermaston, Reading, Berks, RG7 4PN, England. ? Home Office Forensic Science Laboratory, Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FR, England. 299