US Warns Citizens Against Using Hair Conditioner In Case Of Nuclear War; What’s The Connection?

By OB Bureau On Sep 23, 2022

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant — Photo courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Vladimir Putin has said that Russia’s willingness to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine is not a bluff.

America has already issued a warning to its citizens, should there be a nuclear explosion, do what you want to: But don’t use a hair conditioner.

The US issued dos and don’ts for citizens in case of a nuclear explosion, and it specifically mentions not using conditioner on that day. If a nuclear bomb explodes, throwing clouds of radioactive dust into the air, make sure you hop into a shower as soon as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has instructed people to seal off contaminated clothes and take a shower. Then comes the crucial part.

Use shampoo since it is designed to cling to oil and dirt in your hair and carry away any dirty particles when you rinse the shampoo out. Conditioners also contain surfactants (that attract water at one end and oil at the other), but theirs have different properties.

A shampoo can save your life, but a conditioner can be deadly. According to the advisory, avoid using conditioner on your hair to prevent significant radiation exposure. Conditioners can act like a glue between your hair and radioactive material.

Most conditioners have what’s called “cationic” surfactants, which are positively charged. Since hair fibres are negatively charged, they both attract and act as a glue for the radioactive dust. These radioactive particles can cause cell damage and even prove fatal.

If one has been exposed to a nuclear explosion, they should also seek shelter inside a brick or concrete building to avoid radiation, as the US has recommended. It has also advised people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.