LONDON: A previously unknown layer in human hair has been discovered and could help develop more effective shampoos and conditioners, Daily Mail reports.
Researchers using powerful x-ray beams to study hairs found the new layer in a cross section of hair between the cortex – the layer that contains the pigment – and the cuticle, the outer layer.
They also found this layer appears to be made of a different form of protein compared to the other parts of the hair shaft – one that is more commonly found in reptile scales and bird feathers.
The findings have the potential to radically change how scientists see the structure of human hair.
Dr Vesna Stanic, a scientist at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Source, said the filaments of keratin in the new layer appeared to be different from the rest of the hair strand.
She said, “We discovered that within the cuticle a key diffraction feature of the alpha keratin is absent – indicating the presence of beta keratin instead of the alpha keratin phase. Until now, it was believed that keratin in hair had only an alpha conformation,” she explained.
Beta keratin – which is stacked in pleated sheets – is found in feathers and beaks of birds as well as the claws and scales of reptiles. It is thought this structure is what makes them so tough.
It is possible the beta keratin in hair may be also providing a structural role, increasing the strength of the hair. If this is the case it could provide a valuable target for scientists hoping to develop new cosmetics.
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