We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Cosmetic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Ammonium Thioglycolate?

By Liz Thomas
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 37,343
Share

Ammonium thioglycolate is a chemical used to straighten hair. This chemical is much less damaging to the scalp and hair than others and is also much less smelly. Its function is to make follicles more permeable and break up the disulfide bonds that make curls. This product is used in the first step of thermal ionic straightening systems.

Of the other types of chemicals that can be used as a straightener, ammonium thioglycolate is milder than most, which results in less damage to the hair shaft. The thiol group on the chemical, -SH, makes it a reducing agent. The chemical will give an electron to another compound that breaks, or reduces, a chemical bond.

Within the hair strand there are many disulfide bonds. Very curly strands will have a lot of disulfide bonds, while straight strands have much less. The ammonium in the compound will cause strands to swell. Thioglycolate can then enter the strand and reduce or break up the disulfide bonds in the interior of the strand.

Removing ammonium thioglycolate requires thorough washing. The hair is styled, straightened, and then a hydrogen peroxide solution is applied. Hydrogen peroxide creates new bonds in the new hair style. Commonly, less bonds are formed, resulting in less curly strands. If this procedure is performed too many times, hair may become so weak that it breaks.

There are several advantages to using this chemical instead of guanidine hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The pH of ammonium thioglycolate is lower, with a pH level at about 9 to 9.5, whereas sodium hydroxide can have a pH as high as 14. The less alkaline chemical will not damage the scalp or hair. Conditioning products are typically needed before hydroxide products are used, while they are not needed for thioglycolate products.

Additionally, this product does not have an intense smell when applied to hair. Disulfide chemicals, on the other hand, are very smelly and other relaxing chemicals produce a very stinky odor. The reduced sulfur compounds by thioglycolate changes the sulfur to a nonvolatile or non smelly, form of the chemical.

Bio ionic or thermal ionic systems also use this product to reduce the internal stress and structure of hair strands. Hair is reconstructed using heat, normally with a hot flat iron. Strands are then locked into the new, straight style. Unlike other straighteners, this system results in pin straight hair that can be very shiny and soft.

Share
BeautyAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
By Glasis — On Mar 14, 2014

There was a salon next door to where I used to work a while back. I used to like the area I worked, it was a nice lively college area.

In the summer the area would get warm and the place next door opened their door to get some of the heat out.

Those are the days you didn't want to walk by our shop.

Share
https://www.beautyanswered.com/what-is-ammonium-thioglycolate.htm
Copy this link
BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.