Synthetic melanin can be used in dyes for mimicking natural hair pigmentation

Synthetic melanin can be used for mimicking natural hair pigmentation

Research conducted by the scientists at Northwestern University formulated a new method for creating a variety of natural-looking hair colors which uses enzymes to catalyze synthetic melanin. Melanin is a miraculous and ubiquitous material that is commonly found in the form of brown or black pigment. It is a natural pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their dark color, is found in all organisms, making it a readily available and versatile material. 

 

Melanin is a class of natural pigments that contribute to the various colors of hair and skin. Melanin disappears from hair fibers as we age, resulting in color loss and greying.

Hair dyeing has its own set of risks due to its chemical composition. Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, small-molecule dyes, and other ingredients are commonly used in permanent hair dyes to penetrate the cuticle of the hair and deposit color. These harsh substances can cause severe damage to hair and may cause allergic reactions or other health problems in hair dressers as well.

The person can face different skin irritation and allergies as side effects. The repeated use of certain dyes is also linked to skin cancer. 

Fact Check - Nearly 1% of people are allergic to hair dyes. Before adding ammonia hairstylists use bleach to remove melanin from the hair and then they dye permanent color to penetrate the hair cuticles.

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The study identifies four major advantages in using synthetic melanin instead of other hair dyes:

• The precursors of melanin hair treatment are less dangerous.
• As a base layer, synthetic melanin does not use ammonia.
• The chemicals used in the process are safer and more scalable.
• In the future, cosmetic translations of synthetic melanin have enormous potential.

This research has found a more sustainable method of producing long-lasting colors. It can be possible by replacing melanin so that the color could be deposited on the surface of the hair. This synthetic melanin hair dye is also capable of lowering the risk of allergies. Scientists used this method in their sample dyes, which ranges from blonde to black by combining enzymes from melanin-rich mushrooms with an amino acid that mimicked as melanin (same as produced naturally in the body). Pilot tests revealed that the colored layer could withstand multiple washes.

According to Nathan Gianneschi, the research lead and associate director for the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern, melanin is produced by every type of organism, making it a readily available and versatile material to use in the lab. Gianneschi believes his lab will be able to break through the regulatory industry given the industry's desire to move away from carcinogens and other toxic chemicals. The team then hopes to find a partner willing to work on a larger scale to develop the dye. The main motivation for the research, according to Gianneschi, isn't just excitement about melanin's potentially vast commercial applications.

Synthetic melanin is less toxic than the chemicals currently used to remove pigments from hair before recoloring, which can cause skin irritation. It may also be an option for people who are allergic to hair dye but still want to be able to touch up their roots. The researchers claim that by varying the concentration of their synthetic melanin, they can achieve a variety of colors ranging from light to dark. The product would be in the form of a dye and would be applied as a paste from a bottle, much like regular hair color.

Preliminary research also revealed that the colored melanin layer has the potential to persist through multiple washes. Natural-looking colors are applied to the hair surface rather than penetrating the cuticle, making them less likely to cause damage. The colored layer remained visible even after 18 washes.

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