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Question 1
What is the primary reducing agent used in alkaline (cold wave) permanent wave solutions?
Answer: Ammonium thioglycolate (ATG) is the primary reducing agent in alkaline permanent waves. It breaks the disulfide bonds in the hair's cortex to allow reshaping.
Question 2
What chemical process do permanent wave neutralizers perform on the hair?
Answer: Neutralizers re-form (re-oxidize) the disulfide bonds broken during waving, locking the hair into its new curled shape. This process is called oxidation.
Question 3
What type of permanent wave is recommended for color-treated or damaged hair because it processes at a lower pH?
Answer: An acid wave (true acid wave) with a pH of 4.5–7.0 is recommended for color-treated or damaged hair because it is gentler and causes less swelling of the cuticle.
Question 4
What is the term for the damage caused by over-processing a permanent wave, resulting in limp, mushy curls?
Answer: Over-processing causes a condition known as a 'soggy' or overly processed curl, sometimes called a 'fishhook' or simply over-processed hair, where too many disulfide bonds are broken and hair loses elasticity.
Question 5
How does rod size affect the resulting curl pattern in a permanent wave?
Answer: Smaller rods produce tighter, smaller curls, while larger rods produce looser, larger waves. Rod diameter directly determines the size of the curl.