ABA Chemical Treatments & Relaxers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which pH range is typical for lye (sodium hydroxide) relaxers?
- 7.0–8.5
- 9.0–10.5
- 12.0–14.0 (Correct answer)
- 4.5–6.5
Correct answer: 12.0–14.0
Lye relaxers contain sodium hydroxide and have a very high pH of 12–14, making them highly alkaline and potent.
Question 2: A client's scalp has active abrasions before a relaxer service. What is the correct procedure?
- Apply base cream only to abrasions
- Proceed but avoid those areas
- Postpone the service until healed (Correct answer)
- Use a no-lye relaxer instead
Correct answer: Postpone the service until healed
Active abrasions or open scalp lesions are a contraindication for relaxer services; the service must be postponed until the scalp heals.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of pre-relaxer base cream?
- Accelerate chemical penetration
- Protect the scalp from chemical burns (Correct answer)
- Increase relaxer processing time
- Add shine to the hair shaft
Correct answer: Protect the scalp from chemical burns
Base cream acts as a barrier on the scalp and previously relaxed hair to protect against chemical irritation and burns.
Question 4: During a thio relaxer process, the active ingredient works by:
- Raising cuticle scales with alkaline pH
- Oxidizing disulfide bonds permanently
- Reducing disulfide bonds with ammonium thioglycolate (Correct answer)
- Coating the cortex with a protein film
Correct answer: Reducing disulfide bonds with ammonium thioglycolate
Ammonium thioglycolate in thio relaxers breaks (reduces) disulfide bonds, allowing the hair to be straightened into a new shape.
Question 5: After applying a sodium hydroxide relaxer, the neutralizing shampoo restores the hair's pH by:
- Raising pH above 10
- Lowering pH to 4.5–5.5 (Correct answer)
- Keeping pH at 7.0
- Removing all moisture
Correct answer: Lowering pH to 4.5–5.5
Neutralizing shampoos are acidic and bring the hair's pH back down to the naturally slightly acidic range of 4.5–5.5.
Question 6: Which hair condition makes a client a poor candidate for a sodium hydroxide relaxer?
- Low porosity hair
- Previously color-treated or over-processed hair (Correct answer)
- Coarse, resistant hair texture
- Hair with natural oils present
Correct answer: Previously color-treated or over-processed hair
Previously color-treated or over-processed hair is already weakened and can break or sustain severe damage from a strong lye relaxer.
Question 7: How many times should a neutralizing shampoo typically be applied during the neutralization phase of a relaxer service?
- Once only
- Two to three times (Correct answer)
- Five or more times
- Until water runs clear
Correct answer: Two to three times
Neutralizing shampoo is generally applied two to three times to fully halt the chemical process and restore the hair's pH balance.
ABA Chemical Treatments & Relaxers 2
Which pH range is typical for lye (sodium hydroxide) relaxers?