HAIR-HOLDER, HAIR-READER COMPRISING THE SAME, AND METHODS FOR OPTICALLY ACQUIRING DATA FROM HAIR

A system for optically acquiring data from hair comprises a hair-holder including: upper and lower plate assemblies respectively having downward-facing and upward-facing opposing surfaces defining a gap therebetween, the lower plate assembly having a window-void therein, the upper plate assembly further comprising a sideward-facing sample-thickness-regulating surface above the gap; and an alignment-wall mechanically coupled to both plate assemblies and having a side-facing alignment surface within gap or sideward-facing into the gap, the alignment surface being straight along a longitudinal direction parallel to both of the opposing surfaces, the hair-holder being configured so that: when an externally-tensioned sample of hair is loaded onto the hair-holder by laterally moving the sample towards the alignment surface, a presence of the sideward-facing sample-thickness-regulating surface regulates an amount of hair permitted to enter the gap, thereby regulating a thickness of hair above the window-void to at least 0.5 mm and at most 2 mm, and after the loading and after release of the external tension, static friction applied by the side-facing alignment surface upon shafts of the hair sample maintain alignment of hair above the window-void.