332A Chemical Texture Services 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct procedure if a client reports a burning sensation during a relaxer service?
- Continue processing and reassure the client
- Add more relaxer to the area
- Immediately rinse the product from the hair and scalp with lukewarm water (Correct answer)
- Apply more base cream on top of the relaxer
Correct answer: Immediately rinse the product from the hair and scalp with lukewarm water
If a client reports burning or irritation during a relaxer service, the product must be immediately rinsed from the hair and scalp with lukewarm water. Chemical burns from relaxers can be severe, and client safety always comes first.
Question 2: What is a thio relaxer?
- A lye-based relaxer
- A relaxer that uses ammonium thioglycolate as the active ingredient and is similar to perm chemistry (Correct answer)
- A no-lye relaxer using calcium hydroxide
- A keratin smoothing treatment
Correct answer: A relaxer that uses ammonium thioglycolate as the active ingredient and is similar to perm chemistry
A thio relaxer uses ammonium thioglycolate (the same reducing agent as alkaline perms) to break disulfide bonds. Unlike hydroxide relaxers, thio relaxers require a separate neutralization step and the process is potentially reversible.
Question 3: What is the key difference between hydroxide relaxers and thio relaxers in terms of bond chemistry?
- There is no difference
- Hydroxide relaxers convert disulfide bonds to lanthionine bonds permanently; thio relaxers break and reform disulfide bonds (Correct answer)
- Thio relaxers are permanent; hydroxide relaxers are temporary
- Hydroxide relaxers work on hydrogen bonds; thio relaxers work on salt bonds
Correct answer: Hydroxide relaxers convert disulfide bonds to lanthionine bonds permanently; thio relaxers break and reform disulfide bonds
Hydroxide relaxers break disulfide bonds and convert them to single lanthionine bonds — a permanent, irreversible change. Thio relaxers break disulfide bonds but can reform them with a neutralizer, similar to perming chemistry.
Question 4: What rod placement pattern uses rods positioned in rows following the head's curvature?
- Spiral pattern
- Brick-lay pattern
- Straight set or nine-section pattern (Correct answer)
- Weave pattern
Correct answer: Straight set or nine-section pattern
The straight set (also called the nine-section or basic pattern) places rods in straight, parallel rows following the curvature of the head. It is the most common and traditional perm wrapping pattern.
Question 5: What is a brick-lay perm wrap pattern?
- All rods are placed in straight parallel rows
- Rods are offset in alternating rows like bricks in a wall to avoid visible splits between sections (Correct answer)
- Rods are placed in a circular pattern from the crown
- Only half the head is wrapped with rods
Correct answer: Rods are offset in alternating rows like bricks in a wall to avoid visible splits between sections
The brick-lay pattern offsets each row of rods so they sit between the partings of the row above, similar to a brick wall. This prevents visible splits or separations in the finished curl pattern.
Question 6: Why is it important to avoid stretching or pulling the hair tightly when wrapping perm rods?
- It makes the curl pattern too tight
- Excessive tension can cause hair breakage and scalp irritation during chemical processing (Correct answer)
- It uses too much perm solution
- It causes the end papers to wrinkle
Correct answer: Excessive tension can cause hair breakage and scalp irritation during chemical processing
Wrapping too tightly puts excessive tension on the hair shaft and follicle. During chemical processing, this tension combined with the weakening of the bonds can cause breakage, band marks, or scalp irritation and damage.
332A Chemical Texture Services 4
What is the correct procedure if a client reports a burning sensation during a relaxer service?