Thioglycolic acid solution is widely used in the cosmetics industry, particularly in hair care products. It serves as a key ingredient in hair perm solutions and depilatory creams, where it breaks down the disulfide bonds in keratin, allowing hair to be reshaped or removed. In the textile industry, it is employed as a reducing agent in dyeing processes to improve color fastness and consistency. Additionally, it is utilized in the production of pharmaceuticals, where it acts as a precursor or intermediate in synthesizing various active compounds. Its ability to act as a chelating agent also makes it valuable in water treatment processes to remove heavy metals. In analytical chemistry, thioglycolic acid solution is used for metal ion detection and analysis due to its strong reducing properties.