Let's Not Split Hairs

Researchers Joonho Choi, Hyun Jong Lee, and colleagues have developed a clean and non-toxic method for keratin crosslinking in hair, as published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. This new approach avoids the use of toxic chemicals like thioglycolic acid, which can damage hair, by forming ester and thioester linkages using citric acid (CA) and polyols. The study found that a combination of 3% CA, 5% isopropyl alcohol (IPD), and 3% sorbitol optimally increased hair's tensile stress and Young’s modulus by 41% and 44%, respectively. This method offers a promising alternative to traditional hair crosslinking technologies, enhancing hair strength without environmental or health risks.