Chemical hair texturizers temporarily raise the pH of the hair in order to

• A. Soften and swell the hair shaft
• B. Color the hair
• C. Strengthen the cuticle
• D. Dry the hair

Answer: (A)

Raising the pH in temporary hair texturizers makes the hair fiber more pliable by opening the cuticle and swelling the shaft. The alkaline environment softens and expands the hair, so it can be reshaped and held in the new form during processing. That’s why soften and swell the hair shaft is the best match. Coloring involves pigment penetration and chemical reactions beyond just pH-driven softening, so it’s not the purpose here. Strengthening the cuticle would require conditions that tighten the surface, which isn’t what an alkaline texturizer does, and drying the hair isn’t the intended outcome of this pH change.