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Bbird (169.197.9.88)
| | Posted on Monday, December 16, 2002 - 5:17 am: | 
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The Essence of White
It is important to realize that white is not a color in itself, but the absence of color. White hair occurs when no melanin is formed in the papilla, and thus no color pigment is present in the cortex of the hair. White hair is actually translucent. Light passes through the hair shaft. This point was slammed home to me at the hair show when I sat down at a booth that had a magnifying scalp scanner and a video monitor, ostensibly so one could determine if one’s hair was thinning. At about 100X, a human scalp is a bit gross, but I was curious as to what I could see on my head. When the technician moved the scanner to my white forelock of undyed hair , I saw through the hair shafts to the very center. Yes, folks, I saw my own MEDULLA! On the very outside of the hair shaft was a dim outline that I assume was the hair cuticle, and then a thicker area of nothing that was the cortex, and in the very center a fine line that was the medulla. The rest of my hair shafts were varying shades of red, where the red dye had been deposited on the shaft of the hair cortex. You could see where some individual hairs had taken the color better than others, but none were transparent like the white. Wow! If white is invisible, how come we can see it at all? Hmmmm....got me there!
The Nature of White Pet Hair
White dog hair tends to be more thin than hair with color and often has fewer cuticle layers than dark hair. It also can be more porous. These two qualities magnify the challenge of maintaining white pets. Because of the more porosity, the white coat holds dirt and because of the thinner nature of the hair cuticle, staining of the cortex is more likely to occur.
Types Of Whiteners
Once we understand that white is the absence of color, then it becomes apparent (optical pun) that cleaning the hair becomes the first task of whitening. The more thoroughly a product removes dirt and deposits from the hair shaft, the more whitening we will accomplish. The cleansing action of a shampoo for white coat becomes paramount. It is not surprising, then, that whitener shampoos are often more harsh than many others. These shampoos are using higher concentrations of the more dirt lifting surfactants. For this same reason, some professional groomers and handlers of show dogs use Ivory Dish Soap for bathing white dogs. White show dogs are the most frequently bathed, at least weekly, to quickly remove dirt and prevent staining. As with your carpets, staining is most likely to occur when substances are allowed to “set” in the hair.
Some of the most sophisticated whitener products may contain surfactants with bleaching properties that will actually penetrate the hair shaft and decolorize stains through a process of oxidation. Chemically, an oxidizing agent is any substance which causes another substance to lose one or more electrons. This bleaching, or decolorization, is due in part by the ability of the bleaching substance to remove those electrons which are activated by visible light to produce various colors. All Systems #1 White Lightening Shampoo is a product that has bleaching action. Such shampoos commonly contain a warning on the label about not allowing the product to sit on colored hair. Not a good choice for a parti-colored animal.
Products using powerful surfactants and bleaching agents can dry out the coat and possibly damage the hair cuticle. It is important to use restorative conditioners in conjunction with these products. Damaged coat will return dirtier and dirtier because the broken cuticle will attract and hold more dirt.
Some of the more sophisticated whitener shampoos, such as EZ Groom Crystal White, utilize enzymes to break down dirt and stains into particles that can be successfully removed by more gentle surfactants. Enzymes work best in higher temperatures, partly because the hair cuticle is raised by heat so as to allow the enzymatic action to occur in the cortex, where the stain resides. Follow such treatment with a cool rinse to calm and close the hair cuticle. Conditioning is advised.
Bluing and Optical Brighteners
“Brightness is measured as a reflectance in the blue portion of the visible spectrum. Complete reflectance provides a white color.”(www.chem.vt.edu/chem-dept) There you have it! Whiter whites are achieved by optical illusion. Traditionally white fabrics and white hair have been treated with bluing agents so as to deposit a slight amount of blue color to reflect the “blue portion of the visible spectrum.” Any shampoo that is blue or violet in color is using this principle. The downside of these products is that sometimes you can accidentally deposit a little too much blue, and the eye will see blue instead of blue-white. This can happen by applying concentrated blue product on dry,porous coat, or from leaving the product on longer than recommended. Always follow the instructions, please!
Other contemporary whiteners utilize the reflectance principle and increase the appearance of whiteness by making the coat shine and sparkle, literally reflecting more light.
Awapuhi, or Hawaiian White Ginger Root, is a botanical substance that has makes hair shiny and white hair appear more white. There are other, less natural, substances that also create this effect, including silicones.
The absolutely whitest white coat will come from effective cleaning plus some optical brightener. The original pet whitener shampoos all consisted of strong detergents plus blue coloring. Some of the most contemporary products are formulated with bleaching surfactants or enzymatic cleaners and ingredients that maximize shine and light reflection. Either way, you will get a whiter coat. Conditioners containing silicones not only leave a coat shiny and bright, but protect the hair shaft from collecting dirt. Some silicone products, however, tend to yellow white coat if they are allowed to build up. Whoops!
What is Staining?
Putting myself on the spot, so to speak, :-), I am going to create this definition:
staining occurs when pigmentation from a substance penetrates the hair cuticle and is deposited within the cortex of the hair shaft(s). Since the detergent surfactant in a shampoo works on the surface of the hair cuticle, the stain is not removed by shampooing. The hair has in fact been dyed. Urine, coal tar from pavement, ground in grasses, food coloring, and dyes from toys are among the substances that can cause staining. The chemistry of some dog’s saliva can cause staining, especially if they lick themselves.
Dealing with staining is a challenge, often requiring trying various approaches. Prevention is the most effective approach, but does not always work. Daily removal of offending substances such as tears, saliva or urine is recommended. Sometimes changing the diet or the water can help control staining from saliva or tear stains. It is helpful to have realistic expectations. Stain removal is rarely accomplished in a single effort, such as a visit to the groomer. Bleaching is best done in stages, gradually lifting the offending color from the hair shaft. Attempting to bleach out stains in one sitting can result in permanent hair damage. The trick for many pet owners becomes to lift out staining faster than it is being redeposited.
Summary
Pet whitener products seem to fall into three main categories:
(A) Super cleaners - include enzymatic cleaners and stain removers
(B) Bleaches - usually identified because of a warning about colors
(C) Optical enhancers - bluing is the main one, but there are others that make the coat shiny so that it reflects the light.
Maintaining white pets white requires more aggressive cleaning than colored coats. This means more frequent bathing or using stronger detergents, and added conditioning and care in attempting to remove stains and discoloration. White hair is somewhat more fragile than colored hair and can be easily damaged or broken. Damaged hair will tangle more easily. Using heat can help remove dirt and stains, but heat itself can cause hair to lose elasticity and break. Maintaining optimum whiteness in pet coats requires finding the balance between cleaning and overworking the coat.
A Warning
With few exceptions, almost all whitening products can cause damage if they get in a dog’s eyes. Harsh detergents, bleaches, enzymes, dyes, and optical brighteners can hurt the tender tissues of the eyes. Some of these ingredients actually attack protein. Always exercise additional care with these products around your pet’s eyes. If you even think you might have accidentally allowed whitening product of any kind to get in the eye, flush the eyes with tepid water. Flushing immediately can save costly veterinary bills. Don’t freak, just flush! |
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