Chemistry in your cupboard

Depilatory products may work either mechanically or chemically. This section explores the chemistry of hair and how hair can be removed by chemical means through dissolving the proteins that form the structure of hair. The complication of removing hair chemically is that the depilatory product needs to be able to dissolve the proteins within hair but without exerting an effect on those forming the structure of skin. Veet is an example of a depilatory product and comes in both creams and mousses and a variety of different formulations for different skin types.

Links to the curriculum

This section contains information relevant to the following areas of your chemistry curriculum:

• Amino acids and proteins
• Bonding
• Reaction rates
• Equilibria and Le Chatelier’s principle