What chemical is primarily responsible for breaking down hair bonds during the relaxer process?

Sodium hydroxide is primarily responsible for breaking down hair bonds during the relaxer process due to its strong alkaline nature. When applied to the hair, sodium hydroxide penetrates the hair shaft and reacts with the disulfide bonds that give hair its natural curl or wave. This reaction effectively breaks these bonds, allowing the hair to be reshaped into a straighter form.

Sodium hydroxide is often used in chemical relaxers, and its ability to alter the structure of the hair makes it particularly effective for this purpose. It raises the pH of the hair, which opens the cuticle and facilitates bond-breaking, leading to a smoother and straighter hairstyle.

Other chemicals like ammonium thioglycolate and glyceryl monothioglycolate are also used in hair treatments but are typically associated with different processes, such as perming or gentle curl textures rather than the strong bond-breaking required for hair relaxers. Calcium hydroxide is less commonly used in modern relaxers compared to sodium hydroxide, and its use generally also relates to specific formulations in conjunction with other ingredients.