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What Dissolves Human Hair

The fastest chemical (lye) still takes 15–30 minutes. If you need to clear a drain, a mechanical tool is safer and faster. If you need to dissolve hair for cleaning or science, use bleach or caustic soda —with heavy-duty gloves and eye protection.

If you’re dealing with clogged drains, forensic cleaning, or just curious about chemistry, here is exactly what breaks hair down.

Highly alkaline substances are the most common "hair melters" found in household products. They work by breaking down the keratin proteins through a process called hydrolysis.