Texas Class A Barber Written ExamChemical ServicesHard
A client with extremely curly, resistant hair desires a permanent chemical straightening service. The barber selects a guanidine hydroxide relaxer. What is a key characteristic of guanidine hydroxide relaxers compared to sodium hydroxide relaxers?
- AThey break fewer disulfide bonds.
- BThey are typically mixed with a neutralizing shampoo.
- CThey have a higher pH level.
- DThey are considered 'no-lye' relaxers.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. They are considered 'no-lye' relaxers.
Guanidine hydroxide relaxers are a type of 'no-lye' relaxer, meaning they do not contain sodium hydroxide (lye) as their active ingredient. Instead, they are a two-component system that forms guanidine hydroxide when mixed, offering a less irritating alternative.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Both guanidine and sodium hydroxide relaxers are designed to break a significant number of disulfide bonds to permanently straighten hair.
- B. All chemical relaxers, including guanidine hydroxide, require a neutralizing shampoo to stop the chemical action and restore pH, so this isn't a distinguishing characteristic.
- C. Guanidine hydroxide relaxers generally have a lower pH than sodium hydroxide relaxers, making them less caustic.
Guanidine Hydroxide Relaxers
A 'no-lye' chemical relaxer that is a two-component mixture, typically containing calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate, which combine to form guanidine hydroxide. They are less irritating to the scalp than lye relaxers.
- Active ingredient: Guanidine Hydroxide (formed on mixing)
- Classified as 'no-lye' relaxers
- Less irritating to scalp than sodium hydroxide
- Can be more drying to hair, requires good conditioning
Memory trick: Lye is for strong, GUANIDINE is 'NO-LYE' strong.