摘要 |
A mild permanent wave reducing agent-containing composition and method of permanently waving or straightening human hair that provides a strong, long lasting curl, or long lasting straight hair formation, while minimizing hair damage. The composition includes two ionic compounds, one cationic and the other anionic, that complex in solution to provide synergy in waving efficiency, thereby providing a strongly reconfigured hair configuration (curled or straightened). At least one of the ionic compounds functions as a reducing agent for hair, capable of breaking the disulfide bonds in the hair so that the bonds later can be reformed via oxidation, when the hair is in the desired configuration. Examples of cationic compounds include thiocholine, choline, cysteineamide, cysteamine, and combinations thereof. Examples of anionic compounds include cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, thioglycolic acid or its salts, and combinations thereof. The preferred ionic compounds are thiocholine and N-acetylcysteine. The composition is effective over a wide pH range of about 4 to about 12, especially about 5.0 to about 9.4, preferably in the range of about 5.5 to about 8.5, and more preferably at a neutral pH of about 7.0+/-1.0.
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