What is the main ingredient in true acid and acid balanced waving lotions?

The main ingredient in true acid and acid-balanced waving lotions is glyceryl monothioglycolate. This ingredient is essential for creating waves in hair by allowing the disulfide bonds within the hair shaft to be broken and reformed. Glyceryl monothioglycolate is milder than its counterparts, which makes these lotions suitable for finer or more fragile hair types. It allows for a more controlled and gentler wave formation, which reduces the risk of damage to the hair during the permanent waving process.

In contrast, ammonium thioglycolate, while also used in perm solutions, is generally more alkaline and can be more damaging to the hair, making it more suitable for coarser hair types. Calcium hydroxide is typically found in products that are considered more alkaline and is used in traditional relaxers, while polyquaternium is a conditioning agent used in various hair products but does not play a role in the waving process itself. Thus, glyceryl monothioglycolate stands out as the key ingredient for the specific formulation of true acid and acid-balanced waving lotions.