Effect of Aspartic Acid Intermediate Treatment on Virgin Hair by Permanent Wave

In a study conducted on virgin hair, aspartic acid was found to be an effective intermediate agent for permanent wave treatments. The optimal concentration of aspartic acid was determined to be 0.75%. When compared to a control group using distilled water, the experimental group using aspartic acid showed a 4.0% higher efficiency in wave formation, which increased to 4.8% after 30 shampoos. Additionally, the experimental group exhibited a 3.14% higher tensile strength and a 6.50% lower elongation, indicating less damage. The degree of damage measured by a methylene blue colorimeter was 67.24% lower in the experimental group, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that aspartic acid resulted in less cuticle damage. These results suggest that aspartic acid can improve cuticle conditions and hair texture, making it a viable agent for permanent wave treatments.