CHS Chemical Services & Safety 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the neutralizer in a permanent wave service?
- To re-form disulfide bonds and fix the new curl shape (Correct answer)
- To lower the pH of the hair after processing
- To condition and moisturize the hair cortex
- To remove excess waving lotion from the hair shaft
Correct answer: To re-form disulfide bonds and fix the new curl shape
Neutralizers contain hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate that oxidize the broken sulfur bonds, locking the hair into its new curled configuration around the rods.
Question 2: Which pH range is typical for an alkaline (cold wave) permanent waving solution?
- 8.5–9.5 (Correct answer)
- 4.5–6.5
- 6.5–7.5
- 11.0–14.0
Correct answer: 8.5–9.5
Alkaline waves typically have a pH of 8.5–9.5, which opens the cuticle and allows the waving lotion to penetrate the cortex quickly.
Question 3: A stylist notices a chemical smell of rotten eggs during a perm service. What does this most likely indicate?
- The waving lotion is over-processing the hair (Correct answer)
- The neutralizer was applied too early
- The rods are too small for the hair length
- The client has a sulfur allergy
Correct answer: The waving lotion is over-processing the hair
A rotten-egg odor (hydrogen sulfide) during perming signals that the thioglycolate is breaking too many bonds, indicating over-processing.
Question 4: Which type of permanent wave requires added heat to process and typically has a lower pH?
- Acid wave (true acid wave) (Correct answer)
- Alkaline wave
- Thio-free wave
- Soft curl perm
Correct answer: Acid wave (true acid wave)
True acid waves use glyceryl monothioglycolate at pH 4.5–7.0 and require a heat source to activate processing.
Question 5: Before a perm service, a scalp analysis reveals small abrasions. What should the stylist do?
- Postpone the service until the scalp has healed (Correct answer)
- Apply extra base cream over the abrasions and proceed
- Use a gentler acid wave instead of alkaline
- Reduce the perm lotion strength by 50%
Correct answer: Postpone the service until the scalp has healed
Open wounds on the scalp are a contraindication for chemical services because chemicals can enter the bloodstream and cause serious harm.
Question 6: How does the diameter of a perm rod affect the resulting curl?
- Smaller diameter rods produce tighter curls (Correct answer)
- Larger diameter rods produce tighter curls
- Rod diameter affects only wave pattern, not curl tightness
- Smaller rods produce looser waves when hair is long
Correct answer: Smaller diameter rods produce tighter curls
The smaller the rod, the tighter the curl because hair is wrapped around a smaller circumference.
Question 7: What term describes the unwanted lightening of hair color that can occur when a perm lotion is applied over color-treated hair?
- Lifting (Correct answer)
- Fading
- Depositing
- Banding
Correct answer: Lifting
Perm chemicals can open the cuticle and lift artificial pigment molecules out of the cortex, causing color to lighten unintentionally.
CHS Chemical Services & Safety 3
What is the primary purpose of the neutralizer in a permanent wave service?