Means and method for permanent shaping of hair based on N, N-disubstituted mercaptoacetamides as well as methods for preparing these mercaptoacetamides

The invention relates to a method and agents for permanently styling hair, characterised in that they contain a keratin reduction agent in the form of N,N- disubstituted mercaptoacetamide of general formula (I) or salts thereof, R1 and R2 representing a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical, monohydroxyalkyl or polyhydroxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl, each with 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The invention also relates to a method for producing these mercaptoacetamides and to the novel mercaptoacetamide N-ethyl-N-2'-hydroxy-ethylmercaptoacetamide. The inventive agent enables the hair to be styled gently and evenly, at a pH range - 4.5 to 9.5 - which is gentle on skin and hair, without causing allergic or sensitizing reactions.