Abstract: The composition for hardening, strengthening and restructuring keratin-containing materials and/or for increasing the volume of keratin-containing fibers, such as hair, contains from 0.3 to 50.0% by weight of one or more reductones, each having a —(HO)C═C(OH)— group. The reductone ingredient is preferably ascorbic or isoascorbic acid, a salt of ascorbic or isoascorbic acid, such as an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt, an ester of ascorbic or isoascorbic acid, 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbate, ascorbyl phosphate, 2,3-dihydroxy-2-propenal and hydroxypropanedial. A method of treating keratin-containing materials or fibers to harden, strengthen and restructure keratin-containing materials and/or to increase the volume of the keratin-containing fibers by applying this composition and allowing it to act is described. A method of pre-treating keratin-containing material that is to be subjected to a chemical or physical treatment, such as dyeing or permanent shaping is also described.

Abstract: The permanent shaping composition for permanent shaping of hair includes from 2 to 25 percent by weight of a conventional keratin-reducing compound and from 0.02 to 5 percent by weight of certain diquaternary polysiloxanes. The permanent wave-pretreatment composition includes from 0.02 to 5 percent by weight of the diquaternary polysiloxanes. The permanent shaping composition advantageously includes mercaptocarbonic acid reducing agents and has a pH of from 6 to 10 and may include conventional cosmetic additives. Methods for using the permanent shaping composition and the permanent wave-pretreatment composition are described which provide a more uniform permanant wave from the hair roots to the hair tips.