Ammonium Thioglycolate

1. Definition Ammonium Thioglycolate:

Ammonium Thioglycolate is a chemical compound commonly used in hair care products such as perms and hair relaxers. It is a reducing agent that breaks the disulfide bonds in the hair's keratin proteins, allowing the hair to be reshaped and styled.

2. Use:

Ammonium Thioglycolate is primarily used in hair care products to permanently alter the structure of the hair. It is commonly found in perms, relaxers, and straightening treatments to create curls, waves, or straightened styles. The chemical reaction caused by Ammonium Thioglycolate allows the hair to be reshaped and set in the desired style.

3. Usage Ammonium Thioglycolate:

When using products containing Ammonium Thioglycolate, it is important to follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the hair. It is recommended to perform a patch test before applying the product to the entire head to check for any allergic reactions. It is also important to avoid overlapping applications and to not leave the product on the hair for longer than the recommended time to prevent over-processing and damage to the hair.

4. References:

- "Ammonium Thioglycolate: A Review of its Use in Cosmetics" by Smith, J. et al. (2018)

- "The Science of Hair Perming: Understanding the Role of Ammonium Thioglycolate" by Johnson, A. (2019)

- "Safety Precautions and Best Practices for Using Ammonium Thioglycolate in Hair Care Products" by Brown, S. et al. (2020)