Analisis Morfologi Rambut Sebelum dan Sesudah Rebonding Menggunakan Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Rebonding is a chemical hair straightening procedure widely popular in Indonesia, involving two-stage redox reactions on keratin disulfide bonds using ammonium thioglycolate and hydrogen peroxide. Although it provides effective hair-straightening results, rebonding potentially causes significant damage to the hair cuticle structure. This study aimed to analyze the morphological changes of hair surface before and after rebonding treatment through a descriptive comparative case study approach using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The samples consisted of one strand of healthy, chemically untreated hair (control) and one strand of post-rebonding hair that both obtained from a female. Samples were prepared using gold-sputter coating prior to SEM observation. Representative SEM images from each sample were then qualitatively compared based on cuticle morphology parameters. The results showed clear morphological differences between the two samples: the control hair displayed tightly arranged and orderly cuticle scales with a smooth surface, while the post-rebonding hair showed surface erosion and the presence of cracks in multiple areas of the cuticle. These findings confirm that rebonding procedures cause visible and characterizable morphological cuticle damage as identified through SEM, providing a scientific basis for developing more protective post-rebonding hair care products.