Whether it's curling or straightening your hair, perms contain a chemical called Ammonium Thioglycolate. Ammonium thioglycolate is an ammonia salt of thioglycolate. This article will discuss the chemical properties and hazards of the active ingredients in perm solution, as well as safe application methods.

peculiarity

Ammonium thioglycolate is a colorless transparent liquid with a strong ammonia smell. Therefore, whether the perm liquid itself is transparent depends on other ingredients.

effect

Ammonium thioglycolate can permanently change the structure of hair. Depending on the application technique, treated hair can remain curly or straightened. However, the new hair will also need to be permed or straightened. Hair is mostly made up of a protein called keratin. A large part of keratin is the amino acid cysteine. Hair gets its shape from disulfide compounds that bind protein chains. The disulfide bonds of these sulfur atoms can be found in the cysteine molecule.

Perm solution containing thioglycolate breaks down disulfide bonds of hair proteins. Hair stylists use curlers or clay iron straighteners to style hair. A perm neutralizer contains hydrogen peroxide that forms new disulfide bonds, permanently curling or straightening hair.