New Hampshire Cosmetology Practice Exam

The main ingredient found in most perms is ammonium thioglycolate. This chemical compound serves as a reducing agent that breaks the disulfide bonds in the hair's keratin structure. By doing so, it allows the hair to be reshaped into curls or waves when wrapped around perm rods.

Ammonium thioglycolate is favored in the perming process because it effectively alters the hair's structure while maintaining a balance that minimizes damage. The solution typically contains a buffering agent to maintain an appropriate pH for better performance and to help control the hair's texture more effectively.

In contrast, other options serve different purposes in the hair care and chemical processes. For example, hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as a bleaching agent, glycerin is a moisturizer often utilized in hair products for its hydrating properties, and sodium hydroxide is a strong alkaline chemical often used in relaxers rather than perms. Each of these ingredients has distinct roles, but none function as the primary active component in typical perm solutions.