What is a common chemical used in hair straightening treatments?

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Sodium hydroxide is commonly used in hair straightening treatments, particularly in the relaxer processes for chemically straightening curly or wavy hair. It works by breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair's keratin structure, allowing the hair to be reshaped into a straighter form. This chemical's strong alkaline nature helps to penetrate the hair shaft and loosen its natural curl pattern effectively.

While other chemicals listed, like ammonium thioglycolate, are also used in hair treatments (particularly for perming and some straightening processes), sodium hydroxide is specifically recognized for its efficacy in permanent hair straightening. Hydrogen peroxide, primarily a bleaching agent, and glycolic acid, which is more often used for exfoliation in the skincare realm, do not serve the same purpose in hair straightening. Thus, sodium hydroxide stands out as the most relevant and effective option in this context.

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