Preparation and Characterization of Soluble Wool Keratin for Human Hair Care
January 2013
in “
Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan
”
Soluble wool keratin was prepared by modifying disulfide bonds of cysteine to carboxymethylalanyl disulfide (CMAD) groups using thioglycolic acid under alkaline conditions. The resulting carboxymethylalanyl disulfide keratin (CMADK) had a desirable molar mass and some molecules exhibited a helical structure. CMADK with low molar mass, prepared at pH 13.5 and 60°C for 3 hours, was added to permanent waving agents. This treatment significantly reduced hair damage even after three repetitions, demonstrating CMADK's effectiveness in preventing hair damage from bleaching and permanent waving.