The difference in the strength of most chemical hair relaxers is determined by the concentration of what?

• A. Hydroxide
• B. Hydrogen peroxide
• C. Ammonia
• D. Sulfate

Answer: (A)

Strength comes from how alkaline the relaxer is, which is determined by the concentration of hydroxide ions. The hydroxide base creates a highly alkaline environment that breaks the hair’s disulfide bonds during processing; the more hydroxide present, the higher the pH and the more effectively those bonds are disrupted, yielding a stronger, more complete straightening. Hydrogen peroxide in the neutralizer stops the relaxing action and helps re-form bonds after processing, while ammonia and sulfates aren’t the factors that set the strength.