Sodium Thioglycolate

AKA “Sodium mercaptoacetate, Mercaptoacetic acid sodium salt, Sodium thioglycollate, Thioglycolate sodium, Mercaptoacetic acid, sodium salt, sodium sulfanylacetate, Sodium 2-mercatoethanoate”

Synthetic

Ingredient Facts

Sodium thioglycolate

AKA: Sodium mercaptoacetate, Mercaptoacetic acid sodium salt, Sodium thioglycollate, Thioglycolate sodium, Mercaptoacetic acid, Sodium salt, Sodium sulfanylacetate, Sodium 2-mercatoethanoate

Synthetic · Antioxidant · EWG: 4

Synthetic

Antioxidant

Medicated Active

Synthetic

Clean

A chemical that helps break down and reshape hair structure, commonly used in hair relaxers and permanent wave treatments to create straighter or curled styles.

Solubility Very soluble (NTP, 1992)

Formula

C2H3NaO2S

Mol. Weight

114.10

CAS #

367-51-1

Form

Powder

State

Thioglycolic acid, sodium salt is a white powder with a slight odor. Used in cold-waving of hair and as a dipilatory.

See origin →

Functions

Antioxidant

Fights free radicals — the unstable molecules from UV, pollution, and stress that break down collagen and cause premature aging.

Depilatory

Hair Waving Or Straightening

Reducing

Neutralizes Free Radicals

Traditional Use

Developed in the mid-20th century as a chemical reducing agent for hair relaxation and permanent wave treatments. It replaced older, more caustic methods of breaking down hair protein bonds and became the standard ingredient in chemical hair straightening products.