CCP Chemical Relaxers & Texturizers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary active ingredient in a lye relaxer?
- Ammonium thioglycolate
- Sodium hydroxide (Correct answer)
- Guanidine carbonate
- Calcium hydroxide
Correct answer: Sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide (lye) is the active ingredient in lye relaxers and works by breaking the disulfide bonds that give hair its curl pattern.
Question 2: Which type of relaxer is classified as 'no-lye'?
- Sodium hydroxide
- Potassium hydroxide
- Guanidine hydroxide (Correct answer)
- Lithium hydroxide
Correct answer: Guanidine hydroxide
Guanidine hydroxide is the active ingredient in no-lye relaxers, formed by mixing guanidine carbonate activator with a calcium hydroxide base cream.
Question 3: What is the typical pH range of sodium hydroxide relaxers?
- 5–7
- 7–9
- 10–11
- 12–14 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 12–14
Sodium hydroxide relaxers have a very high pH of 12–14, which is required to swell and penetrate the hair shaft and break disulfide bonds.
Question 4: Which bonds in the hair are permanently altered by chemical relaxers?
- Hydrogen bonds
- Salt bonds
- Disulfide bonds (Correct answer)
- Van der Waals bonds
Correct answer: Disulfide bonds
Chemical relaxers permanently break and restructure disulfide (cystine) bonds, which are responsible for the hair's natural curl pattern.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of applying base cream before a relaxer service?
- To activate the relaxer formula
- To protect the scalp and skin from chemical burns (Correct answer)
- To add shine and moisture to the hair
- To speed up processing time
Correct answer: To protect the scalp and skin from chemical burns
Base cream creates a protective barrier on the scalp, hairline, and ears to prevent burns from the highly alkaline relaxer chemicals.
Question 6: What is the function of a neutralizing shampoo after a relaxer?
- To remove excess base cream from the scalp
- To re-bond the hair's disulfide bonds permanently
- To stop the chemical process and restore the hair's natural pH (Correct answer)
- To intensify the straightening effect
Correct answer: To stop the chemical process and restore the hair's natural pH
Neutralizing shampoo halts the chemical relaxing reaction and returns the hair to its natural acidic pH of 4.5–5.5, stabilizing the new structure.
Question 7: What does the term 'virgin relaxer application' mean?
- Applying relaxer only to the new growth on previously relaxed hair
- Applying relaxer to hair that has never been chemically treated (Correct answer)
- Using an organic or natural relaxer formula
- Applying relaxer without using a base cream
Correct answer: Applying relaxer to hair that has never been chemically treated
A virgin application is performed on hair with no prior chemical relaxing history, requiring the product to be applied from roots to ends.
CCP Chemical Relaxers & Texturizers 1
What is the primary active ingredient in a lye relaxer?