Reducing agents donate electrons or remove oxygen from other substances. They help stabilize formulations and prevent oxidation
Reducing agents donate electrons and are primarily used to break disulfide bonds within hair proteins, facilitating hair permanent waves, straightening, and dye removal. They reduce complex dye molecules to smaller fragments, enabling color removal and hair texture alteration.
Common reducing agents: Ammonium Thioglycolate, Sodium Thioglycolate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Bisulfite, Sodium Thiosulfate, Dithiothreitol (DTT), Cysteamine Hydrochloride
Functions and Benefits:
– Breaking disulfide bonds to chemically straighten or curl hair during permanent waving or relaxing treatments.
– Removing artificial hair dyes by reducing their molecules for easier washing out without damaging natural hair pigment.
– Acting as antioxidants to protect cosmetic formulations from premature oxidation and degradation.
– Enhancing hair manageability, reducing frizz and flyaways when included in hair care products.