Effect of Shampoo, Conditioner, and Permanent Waving on the Molecular Structure of Human Hair

The study investigated the effects of shampoo, conditioner, and permanent waving on the molecular structure of human hair using X-ray diffraction. It concluded that shampoo and conditioner primarily affected the hair's surface without altering the internal keratin and lipid structures. In contrast, permanent waving caused significant changes by breaking and reforming disulfide bonds within the hair shaft, reducing the number of keratin coiled-coils, and altering intermediate filaments. These findings underscored the importance of understanding the molecular effects of hair treatments to manage hair health and minimize damage.