Mississippi Cosmetology Board Practice Exam

Ammonium thioglycolate is the chemical commonly used for creating permanent waves in hair. It functions as a reducing agent that breaks down the disulfide bonds in the hair's protein structure, allowing the hair to be reshaped into curls or waves. Once the desired curl pattern is achieved, a neutralizing solution is applied to re-form the disulfide bonds in their new shape, resulting in a long-lasting wave effect.

In contrast, hydrogen peroxide is often used as an oxidizing agent for hair lightening or highlighting, not for perming. Calcium carbonate does not have a role in cosmetic procedures like permanent waving; it is more commonly associated with industrial applications. Sodium laureth sulfate is primarily a surfactant used in shampoos and cleansers to help remove dirt and oil from hair. Thus, it is not relevant to the process of creating permanent waves.