Oklahoma Cosmetology Board Practice Exam

Which cosmetic procedure uses an alkaline product to straighten hair?

1. Hair coloring

2. Hair relaxing

3. Perming

4. Smoothing treatment

The correct answer is: Hair relaxing

Hair relaxing is the procedure that specifically utilizes an alkaline product to straighten hair. This technique involves the use of chemical relaxers, which generally have an alkaline pH to help break down the disulfide bonds in the hair shaft. By weakening these bonds, the natural curls or waves can be elongated and straightened, allowing for a smoother, more manageable texture. In contrast, hair coloring involves the application of dyes or pigments to change the color of the hair, which typically does not have a direct impact on the hair's structure in terms of straightening. Perming, on the other hand, is a process used to create curls or waves by applying a reducing agent and wrapping the hair around rods, which is the opposite of straightening. Smoothing treatments, while they may involve some chemical processes to reduce frizz and smooth out the hair texture, are distinct from the fundamental purpose of relaxing, as their main goal is not to permanently straighten hair but to enhance its overall manageability. Thus, hair relaxing stands out for its primary function of straightening hair through the use of an alkaline product.