Gluten found in wheat products brings chewy consistency in dough and bread items. Several scientists criticized that overconsumption leads to its intolerance, causing serious diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease.

But now a research team led by Shukun Wang from Jiangnan University in Wuxi, China have found that gluten could restore dull and damaged hair by repairing split ends effectively.

Keratin in hair brings the structure and shape of hair. But the continuous exposure of our hair to sunlight or chemical shampoos, dyes or hair straighteners might cause keratin damage, causing hair to lose its natural shine and become brittle.

Till date, there is no definite treatment for split hairs. In order to reform the keratin bonds for shiny hair, it requires the right pH conditions. That was how, the research team from China incorporated easily available and cost effective gluten, which brings in the optimal pH levels in order to repair dry and brittle hair.

Sarah Millar, a hair specialist from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine said that this study is missing an important key factor on what type of hair was tested. But she believes, “If properly conducted and controlled … this research can be of great benefit to consumers in ensuring that they are purchasing products that are scientifically proven to perform as advertised.”