This invention relates to a new permanent wave neutralizer and a method for permanently waving and styling hair. The permanent wave neutralizer contains a sufficient amount of citric acid and optionally a salt of citric acid so as to provide a molar concentration of citric ion of at least 0.2 and a pH of between 1.9 and 4.0.

The invention is related to a composition for the permanent waving of human hair with improved properties of use, containing alkanediols in combination with ammonium carbamate as alkalinizing compound.

Provided is a novel composition for use in hair relaxing. The composition contains a quaternary ammonium hydroxide and a cosmetic base.

A method for lanthionizing keratin fibers to achieve relaxation of said keratin fibers and multicomponent kits for lanthionizing keratin fibers to achieve relaxation of the keratin fibers are also provided.

Pantethine and pantetheine in permanent waving operations for hair to increase waving efficiency.

A process for permanently reshaping keratin fibers, comprising the application to the keratin fibers, before reducing and/or after the fixing, of a pre-treatment and/or post-treatment cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one aminosilicone, as defined herein, in non-microemulsified form.

A waving lotion composition is thickened and is more spreadable when there is used, as a thickening and spreading agent, an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) having an etherificiation degree of 2.4 or more.

A neutralizing and conditioning composition for the hair includes an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide and an amino-functional polymeric silicone additive for imparting durable conditioning benefits to the hair. A method is provided for neutralizing and conditioning hair which has been subjected to a waving or straightening treatment with keratin reducing agent by applying the new composition to the treated hair.

A neutralizer for permanently waving hair containing water, an oxidant and about 0.05 to about 5 weight percent of a hydrolyzed animal protein derivative having quaternary nitrogen groups bonded to the protein amino groups, and a pH value of about 2 to 11. The hydrolyzed animal protein derivative has an isoionic point of at least 9.0 and a viscosity at 10 weight percent solids in water at 25.degree. C. of about 5 to about 40 centipoises.

Bis(2-mercaptoethyl) sulfone and methods of its use as a reducing reagent.