Cosmetology Chemical Services 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary active ingredient in most permanent wave (perm) solutions?
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ammonium thioglycolate (Correct answer)
- Sodium hydroxide
- Resorcinol
Correct answer: Ammonium thioglycolate
Ammonium thioglycolate is the reducing agent in most alkaline perm solutions that breaks the disulfide bonds in the hair's cortex to allow reshaping.
Question 2: A virgin relaxer application is applied from which area first?
- Hairline to crown
- Crown to nape, then sides and front (Correct answer)
- Ends to roots
- Uniformly throughout
Correct answer: Crown to nape, then sides and front
For a virgin relaxer application, the product is applied starting at the crown/most resistant area and working toward the nape, then finishing at the sides and front.
Question 3: The pH of a lye relaxer (sodium hydroxide) typically falls in what range?
- 3–5
- 6–7
- 9–10
- 12–14 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 12–14
Sodium hydroxide (lye) relaxers have a very high pH of 12–14, making them extremely alkaline and capable of permanently straightening tightly coiled hair.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a neutralizer after a perm service?
- Add moisture to the hair
- Remove the waving lotion and re-form disulfide bonds (Correct answer)
- Prepare hair for color
- Condition the scalp
Correct answer: Remove the waving lotion and re-form disulfide bonds
The neutralizer stops the chemical action of the waving lotion and uses oxidation to re-form the disulfide bonds around the new shape of the perm rod.
Question 5: What does the term 'double-process color' refer to?
- Applying two shades of color simultaneously
- Lightening the hair first, then applying a toner (Correct answer)
- Coloring hair twice in one day
- Using two developers at once
Correct answer: Lightening the hair first, then applying a toner
Double-process color involves first pre-lightening (bleaching) the hair and then applying a toner or haircolor to achieve the desired shade.
Question 6: Which haircolor classification can only deposit color and cannot lighten the natural hair?
- Permanent color
- Semi-permanent color
- Demi-permanent color
- Both B and C (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C
Both semi-permanent and demi-permanent haircolors do not contain the developer strength needed to lighten the natural melanin, so they can only deposit color.
Cosmetology Chemical Services 1
What is the primary active ingredient in most permanent wave (perm) solutions?