Calcium thioglycolate

Description

Calcium Thioglycolate is the calcium salt of thioglycolic acid. It is an active ingredient in some hair removal products. Calcium Thioglycolate opens the sulfur bridges in the Keratin structure of the hair, weakening the hair structure in the fibers and roots. This will break down disulfide bonds in Keratin and weaken the hair so that it is easily scrapped off from the hair follicle. It is an active ingredient in hair removal products such as depilatories. It is a fine-milled white powder with an alkaline pH value of 11-12. A depilatory containing calcium thioglycolate has a potent depilatory activity that leaves a soft, smooth, pleasant touch to the skin.

Chemical Properties

white powder(s) or prismatic rod crystal(s); odorless or faint mercaptan odor; used in depilatories and in hair wave preparations [HAW93] [MER06]

Uses

calcium thioglycolate is used almost exclusively in depilatory creams and hair products. This is a calcium salt of thio-glycolic acid. It may cause skin irritation.