Prior to sodium hydroxide relaxer retouch service, the hair should never be what?

• A. Shampooed
• B. Rinsed
• C. Colored
• D. Permed

Answer: (A)

Protection of the scalp and controlled chemical processing are the focus here. The strong alkali in sodium hydroxide relaxers can irritate exposed skin and be harsh on dry, unprotected areas. Shampooing would strip away natural oils and moisture that help guard the scalp, increasing the risk of irritation or chemical burns and making the processing less predictable. By not shampooing before a relaxer retouch, you maintain a healthier barrier and achieve more consistent results on the new growth. Rinsing happens as part of the service, and coloring or perming beforehand would introduce other chemicals that could react with the relaxer and affect the outcome.