Chemical depilatories

A chemical depilatory is a preparation in the form of a liquid or cream that is used to remove unwanted hair from the surface of the body. 

Depilatories epitomize the chemical destruction of hair and allow hair removal by scraping with a blunt instmment or by rubbing with terry cloth. Chemical depilatories are based on 5-6% calcium thioglycolate in a cream base (to avoid runoff) at a pH of about 12. The pH is maintained with calcium or strontium hydroxide. Hair destraction is rapid, requiring not more than about 10 min. Treatment with a depilatory is followed by careful rinsing with water and various conditioning products intended to restore the skin s pH to normal. This type of treatment does not destroy the dermal papilla, and the hair grows back. 

Cosmetic Products— methods of test for chemical depilatories 1745/2000 —... 

The bases of most functional products possess more-or-less undesirable odor qualities. In creams, soaps, and detergent-based products, it is the greasy or waxy note of fatty acids and their derivatives in cold-wave lotions, depilatories, and insecticides, the pungent smell of active agents in window cleaners and nail polish removers, the sweet "chemical" odor of organic solvents. 

Use Depilatory, luminous paints, manufacture of strontium chemicals. 

Animal fat and oil processors Animal manure removers Artificial-flavour makers Asphalt storage workers Barium carbonate makers Blast furnace workers Brewery workers Bromide-brine workers Cable splicers Caisson workers Carbon disulphide workers Cellophane producers Chemical laboratory workers (lecturers, students, technicians) Cistern cleaners Citrus root fumigators Coal gasification workers Coke oven workers Copper-ore sulphidisers Depilatory makers Dye-makers Excavators Felt makers... 

Because reduction of the disulfide bond and its subsequent reactions is vital to several important cosmetic products, a large amount of research that is relevant to these chemical processes has been conducted. This chapter is concerned with reducing the disulfide bond in hair by mercaptans, sulfites, alkalis, and other reducing agents. Reactions of reduced hair are also considered, followed by a discussion of water setting, set and supercontraction, and swelling of hair, processes especially relevant to permanent waves, hair straighteners, and depilatories. 

Products and Uses Various applications include brick mortar, plasters, cements, depilatory (hair remover), disinfectants, water softener, and purifier of sugar juices. Also useful as food additive buffer, firming agent, neutralizing agent, and miscellaneous general purpose food chemicals. Also an important agricultural commodity. 

Products and Uses A chemical used to sanitize, deodorize, and clean. It is a mild antiseptic. An additive for eggs, cosmetics, soaps, depilatories, protective creams, topical antiseptics, gels, and adhesives. Utilized as a preservative, anticaking agent, and detergent. 

Products and Uses The active chemical in depilatories (hair removers), permanent wave solutions, and hair-straightening products. Used in hair-curling, removing, and processing products. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. CO, CO2, NO ammonia, nitric acid, nitrosamines, irritating or toxic fumes NEPA Health 3, Elammability 3, Reactivity 0 Storage Store in cool, dry, ventilated area in closed containers, away from heat, flames, sparks do not store in reactive metal containers Uses Intermediate in mfg. of rubber accelerators, surfactants, dyes, polymers, DEET pesticides, textile specialties, petroleum chemicals selective solvent buffer flotation agent polymerization inhibitor in electroplating sol ns. corrosion inhibitor for metals depilatory for hides in food-pkg. adhesives in pharmaceutical injectables catalyst in food-contact PPO resins activator in food-contact rubber articles for repeated use... 

Depilatories remove hair by chemical reaction. They contain a substance, usually sodium sulfide, calcium sulfide, or calcium thioglycolate, that disrupts the disulfide linkages in the hair and dissolves it. The formulations commonly contain a base such as calcium hydroxide to raise the pH and enhance the action of the depilatory. A detergent and a skin conditioner such as mineral oil are also generally added to depilatories. 

---