CHS Chemical Services & Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which chemical in permanent wave solutions breaks the disulfide bonds in hair?
- Ammonium thioglycolate (Correct answer)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Sodium hydroxide
- Potassium bromate
Correct answer: Ammonium thioglycolate
Ammonium thioglycolate is the reducing agent in acid and alkaline waves that breaks disulfide bonds so hair can be reshaped.
Question 2: What is the recommended PPE when applying a chemical relaxer to a client's scalp?
- Gloves and protective apron (Correct answer)
- Safety goggles only
- Dust mask and gloves
- No PPE required if working quickly
Correct answer: Gloves and protective apron
Gloves and a protective apron protect both the stylist's skin and clothing from caustic relaxer chemicals.
Question 3: A client develops redness and itching immediately after a relaxer application. What is the FIRST action?
- Rinse the relaxer off immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply a neutralizing shampoo and leave for 5 minutes
- Add a base cream to soothe the scalp
- Reduce processing time by half
Correct answer: Rinse the relaxer off immediately
Immediate rinsing removes the caustic chemical and reduces further scalp irritation or chemical burns.
Question 4: In the context of chemical relaxers, what does 'lanthionization' refer to?
- The permanent breaking and re-forming of hair bonds with a sulfur link (Correct answer)
- The temporary softening of the hair cortex
- The oxidation process that fixes curl shape
- The neutralizing step that stops processing
Correct answer: The permanent breaking and re-forming of hair bonds with a sulfur link
Lanthionization is the irreversible process where sodium hydroxide converts disulfide bonds into lanthionine bonds, permanently straightening hair.
Question 5: Which factor most affects how quickly a chemical relaxer processes?
- Scalp and room temperature (Correct answer)
- The brand of neutralizing shampoo used
- The stylist's application speed
- The type of base cream applied
Correct answer: Scalp and room temperature
Higher temperatures accelerate the chemical reaction, so scalp heat and ambient temperature significantly impact relaxer processing time.
Question 6: A 'thio' relaxer differs from a sodium hydroxide relaxer primarily because it:
- Can be neutralized and therefore its effects are reversible (Correct answer)
- Contains bleach to lighten while straightening
- Does not require rinsing before neutralizing
- Works exclusively on fine, straight hair
Correct answer: Can be neutralized and therefore its effects are reversible
Thio relaxers use ammonium thioglycolate and can be neutralized with hydrogen peroxide, unlike lye relaxers that cause permanent lanthionization.
Question 7: When performing a strand test before a chemical service, what information does it provide?
- Processing time and expected results without risking the full head (Correct answer)
- The client's allergy risk to the chemical
- The exact pH of the product on that hair type
- Whether the client needs a base cream
Correct answer: Processing time and expected results without risking the full head
A strand test reveals how the hair responds to the chemical and how long processing should take before full application.
CHS Chemical Services & Safety 2
Which chemical in permanent wave solutions breaks the disulfide bonds in hair?