This study compared the physical and chemical characteristics of black and white hair. Hair samples were obtained from 88 year old Korean female, cut into 5-10cm long segments selected from occipital region. The physico-chemical characteristics were analyzed by SEM-EDX, FT-IR, light microscope with polarizer, and swelling test. Black hair showed less dense morphology than white hair using SEM, Through elemental analysis by EDX, the sulfur content of black hair was found 7.08 wt% less than 8.80 wt% of white hair. When measuring through FT-IR, the lipid peak of the white hair was more stronger than that of black hair. Polarized microscope showed that white hair is more brighter than black hair. That is, doubly refract property of white hair was more than that of the black hair. Three kinds of surfactants were tested for the swelling of the hair. Anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) showed the highest swelling level. Cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) showed the lowest welling level. Nonionic surfactant, saponin, showed the medium level of swelling. Cationic surfactant bears a positive charge and become more strongly adsorbed on the hair surface. This suggest that the adsorption of CTAC on the hair surface reduces the swelling of the hair. On the other hand, SLS binds to the lipophilic surface by hydrophobic alkyl tails, reducing in repulsive forces, exposing more water binding sites. In conclusion, it was found that white hair showed more dense and hydrophobic properties than black hair.