Barber Practice State Board Practice Exam

Which process do alkaline substances primarily perform on hair?

1. Coloring

2. Softening

3. Curling

4. Drying

The correct answer is: Softening

Alkaline substances primarily function to soften hair due to their ability to raise the pH level of the hair and open the cuticle layers. This process is essential in various hair treatments, such as perming and relaxing, where the goal is to alter the hair's texture. By softening the hair, alkaline products help to break down the disulfide bonds in the hair structure, making it more malleable and easier to reshape. In contrast, while coloring can involve alkaline components to facilitate the penetration of color into the hair, its primary purpose is not solely softening. Curling is often a result of the softening process but involves additional shaping techniques, and drying typically refers to moisture removal, which does not directly involve the softening action of alkalinity. Thus, the significance of the alkaline substances in their primary role is best captured by their effect on hair texture and softness.