When to choose cysteamine over TGA?
Cysteamine is the right call when the hair is fine, sensitised, previously laminated, or simply not responding well to traditional thioglycolic acid (TGA) systems. It is also the safer choice for clients who book lamination or lash lift services every 4–6 weeks, where the cumulative dryness of TGA starts to show.
How the processing window behaves?
Unlike TGA, which can swing from “not done” to “over-processed” in under a minute, cysteamine has a forgiving curve. The full processing window sits between 8 and 15 minutes, but once the hair reaches its soft, workable state it will hold there for several minutes — giving you breathing room to assess and adjust. Start checking at the 5-minute mark and reassess every 2 to 3 minutes. The cue you are looking for is a soft, pliable hair that bends and holds shape — not slippery, not stiff. When in doubt, take the product off:
cysteamine is far more forgiving on the under-processed side than the over-processed side.
