Ammonia Free Hair Straightening Cream

Ammonia free hair straightening creams have a gentler formula that reduces the risk of scalp burns and other chemical damage. They also offer grey blending and a natural-looking finish.

Most hair relaxers contain formaldehyde, which can cause respiratory distress and skin irritation. The endocrine-disrupting chemicals released by these products have been linked to hormone-related diseases, such as asthma and uterine cancer.

Ammonium Hydroxide

Ammonium hydroxide is a clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. It is a highly alkaline substance, meaning it has a high pH level, which is higher than the neutral pH of 7. It is used extensively in industrial and commercial applications.

In cleaning and household products, it serves as a deodorizer and an agent to remove stubborn stains. It is also used as a buffering ammonia free hair straightening cream agent in pH adjustment for water treatment and in manufacturing, to increase the alkalinity of acidic solutions.

It is utilized in wastewater treatment as a means of adjusting the pH of effluent water to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and prevent corrosion in pipelines and equipment. It is also used in the production of fertilizers and in food processing as a leavening agent and pH regulator.

Ammonium hydroxide is a dangerous chemical that should be handled with caution and in a well-ventilated area, with the use of protective gloves and eyewear. It is corrosive to skin and eyes, and can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with them. It is also a fire hazard and can produce irritating or poisonous gases when heated. It can be extinguished with dry chemicals, CO2, Halon, or standard foam. It can be shipped via air, rail, road, or water, in containers that meet DOT standards.

Ammonium Thioglycolate

Thioglycolic acid (HSCH2CO2NH4) and its salts and esters, such as ammonium thioglycolate, are used in hair treating products including permanent wave and hair straightening products. It is also used as a preservative in many cosmetics and personal care products.

It works by reducing the disulfide bonds in keratin fibers. It is a mucolytic and can cause irritation to the scalp and skin when used in high concentrations. It has been found to cause contact dermatitis in hairdressers who use such products frequently. It is known to reduce the strength of hydrogen peroxide solutions used for oxidative hair treatments, such as bleaching and lightening.

In a perm solution, it is used in combination with ammonia to treat the hair. The ammonia swells the hair, and the thioglycolic acid reduces disulfide bonds in the protein to make the hair receptive to the oxidative perm. This results in a stronger and longer-lasting perm. It is a necessary step in creating the new chemical bonding, akin to vulcanization, that gives hair its rigidity.

It is important to perform patch tests before applying it and to follow manufacturer instructions carefully. It is especially important to avoid prolonged or excessive exposure, as this can lead to scalp burns and hair damage. It has been identified as a low-grade sensitizer in repeated insult patch tests with normal human skin.

Ammonium Sulfate

Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt with no smell that is often used as a growing agent. It dissolves easily in water and is available as fine white crystals or hygroscopic granules. It is also produced in industrial processes from destructive distillation of coal reacted with sulfuric acid and as a byproduct of the production of caprolactam.

It is a common ingredient in hair relaxers, perms and straightening creams because of its ability to disrupt disulfide bonds that make curly hair curl and create natural-looking straightness. It is gentler than sodium hydroxide-based products and is a good choice for those with dry, damaged or sensitive scalps. It is also less damaging than other chemical hair straighteners, such as those based on sulfite or thioglycolate.

In hair care formulations, ammonium sulfate can be combined with other ingredients like surfactants to produce shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments. It is also an effective thickener that can be added to liquid formulations. The addition of surfactants helps to wash away dirt and the best hair straightening products grease from the scalp and hair shaft and increases the cleaning efficacy of the product. The surfactants can be derived from natural sources like coconut oil, palm oil or shea butter or synthetically produced by ethoxylation of lauryl sulfates.

It is important to take basic safety precautions when working with ammonium sulfate. Wear chemical-resistant protective goggles and a personal respirator when handling the product, and keep it away from any areas where it may be exposed to air. When sprayed or splashed on skin, wash immediately with an appropriate cleanser.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate, also known as the nitric acid ammonium salt, has many uses. It is used as a fertilizer, an oxidizing agent and as a component of some explosives. It was one of the ingredients in the improvised bombs that caused the 1996 London bombings and the 1995 explosions at the Oklahoma City federal building killing 168 people.

Ammonium Nitrate is a Class 1.5 explosive under the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations (HSDB). It can explode if confined and heated under certain conditions. It reacts explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels) and other organic compounds or when hot, molten and in contact with combustible substances such as wood, sawdust or paper. It can also decompose in fire, releasing toxic fumes such as oxides of nitrogen that are yellow or brown in color.

Ammonium nitrate may cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory distress and pulmonary edema in some individuals. It can also trigger a number of chemical sensitivities including allergy, asthma and contact dermatitis. Interestingly, Mayraki permanent straightening cream contains two different types of ammonium nitrate. Both are present as fragrance, along with a host of other chemicals including cyclopentasiloxane, glyoxylic acid and phenyl trimethoxylate. While perfume is often a source of allergens, cyclopentasiloxane is a cyclical silicone that can irritate the scalp and skin. Cyclopentasiloxane can also emit formaldehyde at high temperatures such as when exposed to the heat of a flat iron.