Good news for hippies: dirty hair neutralizes ozone

According to Discover Magazine, oily, unwashed hair can destroy ozone. Scientists discovered that dirty hair absorbed seven times more ozone than clean hair. The oil in our unwashed hair and skin contains double-bonded molecules, including fatty acids, that latch onto the ozone before we have a chance to breathe it in. Pretty cool, eh?

Unfortunately, though, it’s not without its drawbacks. Said

absorption process can cause by-products like formaldehyde, albeit in small amounts.

Despite the creepy side effects, it’s nice to know something as simple as not showering can - however minutely - help to neutralize pollution. So the next duration your friends tease you for sporting dreadlocks or going au naturel, tell ‘em to bug off - you’re helping the environment.

[Source] Ellen Slattery