Dr Sherif Elsharkawy. Pic King's College, London
Move over fluoride, there’s a new hero in town: hairpaste.
Yes, the same stuff clogging your shower drain could soon be polishing your pearly whites. Scientists at King’s College London have announced that toothpaste made from hair can actually repair tooth enamel and stop decay before it even begins.
The secret? Keratin – the protein responsible for making hair bouncy, sheep fluffy, and salon bills terrifying. Turns out it can also patch up microscopic cracks in your teeth like tiny dental builders armed with protein scaffolding.
“Imagine brushing your teeth with your own fringe and healing them at the same time,” said Dr Sherif Elsharkawy (probably while stroking a sheep).
Early branding suggestions (unofficial, but brilliant):
- Head & Molars – “Because your mouth deserves salon shine.”
- Baa-bysmile – the eco-friendly wool edition.
- L’Oréal Dentiste – “Because you’re enamel it.”
- Pantene Pro-Tooth – repairs 99% of cracks in one brush.
The scientists swear the paste will look and taste normal – minty, foamy, refreshing – not like gnawing on a hairball. And while the prototypes came from wool (sheep are donating whether they like it or not), the future could see DIY kits where you snip a lock of your own hair, pop it in a machine, and presto: bespoke toothpaste.
“Affordable, accessible, and good for farmers,” the researchers promised. Translation: sheep get haircuts, you get fewer fillings. Everybody wins.
The toothpaste could hit shelves within three years. Until then, keep brushing – but remember: one day, the key to a Hollywood smile might already be growing out of your head.
