Photo-Protective Effect of Cuttlefish Ink Melanin on Human Hair

The study assessed the photoprotective properties of melanin extracted from cuttlefish ink on human hair. When applied to black hair and exposed to UV radiation, the melanin provided significant protection to the hair cuticle, as shown by SEM images, which revealed visible cracks on uncoated hair but not on melanin-coated hair. The melanin-coated hair also showed negligible changes in disulfide linkages, free sulfhydryl group content, water retention, and swelling index upon UV exposure, unlike the uncoated samples. Additionally, the mechanical strength of melanin-coated hair fibers was better preserved compared to uncoated fibers. These findings suggested that cuttlefish melanin could be a valuable photoprotective agent in hair-care products, utilizing a byproduct of the cephalopod processing industry.