Final answer:
Ammonium thioglycolate and hydrogen peroxide are sometimes used as low-pH hair relaxers to change the structure of the hair.
Step-by-step explanation:
In hair relaxers, chemicals such as ammonium thioglycolate and hydrogen peroxide are sometimes used as low-pH relaxers.
Ammonium thioglycolate is added to reduce and rupture the disulfide cross-links in the hair, allowing the alpha-helices to shift positions. Hydrogen peroxide, also known as the neutralizer, is then added to reform the disulfide bonds in their new positions, making the change in the hair permanent.
For example, in a permanent wave process, the hair is first treated with ammonium thioglycolate to disrupt the disulfide bonds. It is then put on rollers or curlers, and hydrogen peroxide is added as the neutralizer to reform the disulfide bonds in their new positions.