Solubility of Structurally Complicated Materials: Hair
January 2009
in “
The scientific world journal/TheScientificWorldjournal
”
TLDR Hair is hard to dissolve because of its complex proteins, but certain solvents that break specific bonds and hydrate can do it.
The study discussed the solubility of hair, which is composed of proteins, lipids, water, and trace elements. Hair proteins, primarily keratin, are organized into filaments and are notably difficult to digest or solubilize. Common methods for dissolving hair include acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic hydrolysis. Effective solvents for hair typically have small molecular sizes and hydrophobic groups, which can break disulfide bonds between cystine molecules and hydrate the hair shaft, transforming it into a jelly-like mass.
