What is the combination of ammonia and thioglycolic acid used as a reducing agent in permanent waves called?

The combination of ammonia and thioglycolic acid used as a reducing agent in permanent waves is called ammonium thioglycolate. This substance is essential in the curling process because it effectively breaks down the disulfide bonds in the hair, allowing it to be reshaped into curls or waves.

Ammonium thioglycolate is specifically formulated to work at a specific pH level, which enhances its ability to penetrate the hair cuticle and initiate the chemical process of waving. The ammonia serves to raise the pH and facilitate the penetration of thioglycolic acid into the hair shaft, where it can perform its intended function of reducing the bonds in the hair structure.

The other choices refer to different compounds that do not serve the same purpose in the context of permanent waving. For instance, amino thioglycolate does not exist in the same formulation as a reducing agent for perming hair, while thioglycolic compound is too vague and does not specify the necessary combination with ammonia. Ammonium hydrosulfite, on the other hand, is generally used as a bleaching agent rather than as a reducing agent in chemical texturizing. Thus, ammonium thioglycolate is the correct and specific term for the reducing agent