5-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol is a specialty chemical used primarily as an intermediate in the formulation of oxidative hair dyes. It acts as a coupler, reacting with developers like p-phenylenediamine to produce stable, vibrant, and long-lasting colors that penetrate the hair cortex. This compound is essential for permanent hair coloring products in the cosmetics industry. While its main application is in hair care, it may also find limited use in organic synthesis for pharmaceuticals as a building block for more complex molecules. Note: It is not a commodity chemical but a niche specialty intermediate.