Waving lotion composition

In a lotion composition useful in a process for the permanent waving of hair, said composition comprising an alkaline aqueous solution of a reducing agent for treating hair and a thickening spreader, the improvement which comprises:

• said thickening spreader is a salt of a carboxymethylcellulose selected from the group consisting of the sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium salts of carboxymethylcellulose, said salt of carboxymethylcellulose having an etherification degree of from 2.4 to 3.0, a one percent by weight aqueous solution of said salt of carboxymethylcellulose having a viscosity, at 20.degree. C., of from 10 to 10,000 cps, said lotion composition containing from 0.1 to 3.0 percent by weight of said salt of carboxymethylcellulose.