- Joined
- Oct 12, 2025
- Posts
- 1,654
- Reputation
- 3,005
What if you could style or dye your hair with drugs?
There are four types of hair: straight, wavy, coily, and curly.
Your hair type is determined by gene transcription factors that are implicit within your biology. However, new research indicates that vitamin A derivatives can curl your hair at the follicular level.
In a case study with two women treated with alitretinoin, a synthetic retinoid, they found it caused their hair to curl.
Seems this mechanism is mediated by retinoid's effects on keratinization during the growth phase, a process by which cells accumulate keratin, as well as retinoids’ effect on different receptors within the scalp. This effect is not solely relegated to alitretinoin alone, as it's also present with isotretinoin, otherwise known as accutane.
on this, researchers are beginning to map how small molecular signals influence the architecture of the hair shaft itself. Hair follicles follow complex biochemical pathways , and when certain pathways, such as Wnt signalling or retinoid-responsive transcription networks, are nudged, the follicle can shift its output toward tighter curls, looser waves, or even altered pigment packaging. Scientists have compared it to “tuning” the follicle rather than forcing it, a reminder that hair isn’t static fiber but living, shape-shifting biology responsive to molecular cues.
As we know, straight hair is very difficult to style and can make you utterly chopped, so this is really promising. Furthermore, new research into hair colour and hair type indicate that pharmacological interventions may be able to change the gene expressions responsible for hair colour and texture.
There are four types of hair: straight, wavy, coily, and curly.
Your hair type is determined by gene transcription factors that are implicit within your biology. However, new research indicates that vitamin A derivatives can curl your hair at the follicular level.
Seems this mechanism is mediated by retinoid's effects on keratinization during the growth phase, a process by which cells accumulate keratin, as well as retinoids’ effect on different receptors within the scalp. This effect is not solely relegated to alitretinoin alone, as it's also present with isotretinoin, otherwise known as accutane.
on this, researchers are beginning to map how small molecular signals influence the architecture of the hair shaft itself. Hair follicles follow complex biochemical pathways , and when certain pathways, such as Wnt signalling or retinoid-responsive transcription networks, are nudged, the follicle can shift its output toward tighter curls, looser waves, or even altered pigment packaging. Scientists have compared it to “tuning” the follicle rather than forcing it, a reminder that hair isn’t static fiber but living, shape-shifting biology responsive to molecular cues.
As we know, straight hair is very difficult to style and can make you utterly chopped, so this is really promising. Furthermore, new research into hair colour and hair type indicate that pharmacological interventions may be able to change the gene expressions responsible for hair colour and texture.
