Sodium thioglycolate is widely used in the cosmetics industry, particularly in hair care products. It acts as a reducing agent in hair relaxers and permanent wave solutions, breaking the disulfide bonds in keratin to alter the hair's structure. This allows for straightening or curling, depending on the desired effect.

In the textile industry, it is employed as a reducing agent in dyeing processes, helping to improve the color fastness and uniformity of dyes on fabrics.

Additionally, it finds application in the pharmaceutical sector, where it is used in certain formulations to stabilize active ingredients or as a component in depilatory creams for hair removal. Its ability to break down proteins makes it effective in these formulations.

In analytical chemistry, sodium thioglycolate is used as a reagent for the determination of certain metals, leveraging its reducing properties to facilitate accurate measurements.