What’s Ammonium Thioglycolate?
If you’ve ever gotten a perm, chances are you were treated with ammonium thioglycolate. This chemical compound is used in permanents and hair straighteners to break the disulfide bonds in keratin, which allows the hair to be reshaped. Ammonium thioglycolate is also known as perm salt.
What Does Perm Salt Do to Your Hair?
When you get a perm, your stylist will likely use a chemical called ammonium thioglycolate to break the disulfide bonds in your hair. This allows your hair to be reshaped into curls or waves.
Once your hair has been treated with ammonium thioglycolate, your stylist will often apply hydrogen peroxide. This helps to neutralize the ammonium thioglycolate and restore the disulfide bonds in your hair. Sodium chloride, or table salt, is sometimes added to this solution.
When salt is added to the neutralizing solution, it helps to create smaller disulfide bonds. This gives your hair more bounce and body and can help your perm last longer.
However, the number of disulfide bonds that are restored is far less than it was before the permanent. As a result, the hair is less robust than it was prior to treatment and subsequent applications over the same area might lead to strand breakage.
When Is Ammonium Thioglycolate Used?
Ammonium thioglycolate is used primarily in permanents and hair straighteners. As far as hair straightening is concerned, ammonium thioglycolate is often used in combination with other chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide. This chemical compound is also used in some hair dyes and bleaches. In these products, it helps to break the disulfide bonds in keratin so that the hair can be reshaped – either straightened or curled.
Ammonium Thioglycolate: Risks
When it comes to perming your hair, one of the most important things to consider is the type of perm solution that you will be using. Ammonium thioglycolate is a common ingredient in many perm solutions, but it can also be very dangerous to your hair and scalp if not used properly.
If the perm solution is not applied correctly, or if it is left on the hair for too long, it can cause severe damage to the hair and scalp. Some of the most common side effects of ammonium thioglycolate include:
- irritation of the skin and scalp;
- burning sensation on the skin and scalp;
- hair loss;
- blistering of the skin and scalp;
- swelling of the skin and scalp.
Also, allergy sufferers may experience a more severe reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or chest pain. It is a chemical that not everyone can tolerate and in some cases, the side effects can be very serious.
How Can You Use Ammonium Thioglycolate Safely?
If you are planning on using ammonium thioglycolate to perm your hair, it is important that it is not left on your hair for too long. It is also important to make sure that you use a mild shampoo and conditioner after the perm to help soothe the scalp and hair.
If you experience any irritation, burning, or hair loss after using ammonium thioglycolate, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Ammonium thioglycolate can be a very dangerous chemical if not used correctly, so it is important to be aware of the potential risks before using it. Most professional hair stylists will use a different type of perm solution if you have sensitive skin or scalp, so it is important to consult with your stylist before using ammonium thioglycolate if you’re concerned about its safety.
What Are the Alternatives to Ammonium Thioglycolate?
There are many different types of perm solutions on the market, so you may want to consider trying a different product if you’re concerned about the safety of ammonium thioglycolate. One of the methods of straightening hair which is much safer is by using a Brazilian blowout. This is a method which uses keratin to straighten hair instead of any harsh chemicals.
If you want to avoid using any type of chemical perm solution, you can try using rollers or flexi rods to curl your hair. This is a gentle and natural way to get curly hair without using any harsh chemicals. Curling your hair with rollers or flexi rods is also a great way to protect your hair from heat damage, which can be caused by using curling irons or hair straighteners.
Ammonium Thioglycolate: The Bottom Line
Many men and women use ammonium thioglycolate to perm their hair, but it is important to be aware of the potential risks before using this chemical. Ammonium thioglycolate can cause severe damage to the hair and scalp if not used properly. It is also important to know that there are many alternative methods of curling hair that don’t involve using any harsh chemicals.
Harsh chemicals, heat styling, and tight hairstyles can all lead to hair breakage. If you’re concerned about the safety of ammonium thioglycolate, be sure to consult with your hair stylist before using this chemical.
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