When performing an alkaline wave on a client, thioglycolic acid is combined with what ingredient to shorten processing time?

In the process of performing an alkaline wave, thioglycolic acid is typically combined with ammonium hydroxide to create a more effective solution that expedites the chemical reaction needed for curling the hair. The combination allows for a higher pH level, which facilitates the opening of the hair cuticle and enhances the penetration of the solution, thereby reducing the overall processing time. Ammonium hydroxide acts as an alkaline agent that aids in the alkalizing of the thioglycolic acid, making the waving solution more effective in breaking disulfide bonds within the hair structure.

In this context, while other chemicals like calcium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are also alkaline agents and can be used in hair treatments, they do not specifically combine with thioglycolic acid for the purpose of shortening processing time in an alkaline wave as effectively as ammonium hydroxide does. Lysozyme, on the other hand, is an enzyme and does not play a role in chemical waving processes. Ammonium hydroxide is the standard choice in the cosmetology field for achieving faster and more efficient results in chemical waving.