Sodium thioglycolate is widely used in the cosmetics and personal care industry, particularly in hair care products. It serves as a key ingredient in hair relaxers and permanent wave solutions, where it breaks the disulfide bonds in keratin, allowing hair to be reshaped into a new style. This chemical is also employed in depilatory creams to weaken the protein structure of hair, making it easier to remove from the skin. In the textile industry, it acts as a reducing agent in dyeing processes, helping to improve the color fastness of fabrics. Additionally, it is utilized as a reducing agent in various chemical production processes and as a component in metal plating solutions to clean metal surfaces before coating. Its ability to act as a stabilizer and antioxidant makes it useful in certain industrial formulations as well.