Hair that has been treated with a hydroxide relaxer is unfit for _____ and will not hold a curl.

• A. Coloring
• B. Bleaching
• C. Thermal reconditioning
• D. Permanent waving

Answer: (D)

Chemical processing that uses a hydroxide relaxer changes the hair’s bond structure in a permanent way. It breaks and often chemically alters the disulfide bonds that give hair its shape, so the hair is straightened and the bonds are no longer in a state that can be reconfigured into curls. A permanent wave relies on breaking and then reforming those same bonds to create curl patterns, so on hair that has already been treated with a hydroxide relaxer there isn’t a bond framework that the perm can rebuild into curls. For that reason, it won’t hold a curl, and attempting another chemical service can risk significant damage, so professionals typically avoid overlapping these processes and wait for new growth or take other corrective steps before any curl-reintroducing service.