THE COLD PERMANENT HAIR-WAVING PROCESS

Abstract

This report concerns the effects of certain cold wave lotions on the health of 1,200 persons who volunteered for tests of these products. Millions of people are exposed to such chemicals. The 1,200 persons included normal persons and some with various skin diseases; persons without any known contact with cold waving lotions, as well as a great number subject to prolonged previous contact. The main active ingredient in cold waving lotions is ammonium thioglycolate. The material employed in these tests was Toni Home Wave. Because the chemical reactivity of cold waving lotions is affected by the concentration of ammonia and ammonium thioglycolate, by the alkalinity (<i>p</i>H) and by the type and amount of wetting agent used, the data here reported cannot be applied to lotions containing ammonium thioglycolate with different concentrations of the adjuvants. Previous reports on the medical aspects of cold waving lotions are meager and replete with