What process converts disulfide bonds to lanthionine bonds during a relaxer treatment?

Lanthionization is the process that converts disulfide bonds into lanthionine bonds during a relaxer treatment. Disulfide bonds, which are a type of sulfur bond found in hair, give the hair its strength and shape. When a hair relaxer is applied, it works to break these disulfide bonds, allowing the hair to be reshaped into a straighter form.

During the lanthionization process, the broken disulfide bonds are reformed as lanthionine bonds, which are more stable but do not provide the same strength as the original disulfide bonds. This transformation is essential in the relaxing process as it contributes to the long-lasting straightening effect that is desired.

Other processes mentioned, such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and hydrogenation, serve different purposes in hair treatment and do not specifically involve the conversion of disulfide bonds to lanthionine bonds. Understanding lanthionization is crucial for anyone looking to grasp the chemistry behind hair relaxers and the structural changes they cause in hair.