NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) ExamHair Care and ServicesMedium
A cosmetologist is performing a strand test for a permanent waving service on a client's hair. During the test, the hair on the rod shows a weak, 'S' shape formation, and is not firm. What action should the cosmetologist take next?
- AUnroll all rods and re-wrap the hair more tightly.
- BImmediately rinse the hair and apply neutralizer.
- CRe-saturate the section with waving lotion and continue processing.
- DApply heat to accelerate the processing time.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Re-saturate the section with waving lotion and continue processing.
A weak or underdeveloped 'S' shape indicates that the hair has not processed enough. The correct action is to re-saturate the section with waving lotion and continue processing, then re-test after a few more minutes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Re-wrapping would be necessary if the initial wrap was too loose, but the primary issue here is insufficient processing, not wrapping technique.
- B. Rinsing and neutralizing underdeveloped hair will set a weak curl, resulting in a poor, limp perm.
- D. Applying heat could over-process or damage the hair if the solution isn't designed for heat processing, and the primary need is more chemical action, not just heat.
Permanent Wave Strand Test
A test performed during the permanent waving process to determine if the hair has processed sufficiently to achieve the desired curl pattern.
- Involves unwinding a test rod 2-3 turns.
- A strong 'S' shape indicates sufficient processing.
- A weak 'S' shape means more processing is needed.
Memory trick: Weak 'S' means 'Saturate' again, for a curl that's strong, not in vain.