What is the recommended action if the hair shows damage prior to a chemical texture service?

• A. Proceed with the service to test tolerance.
• B. Postpone the service.
• C. Apply additional chemical to condition hair.
• D. Change to a color service instead.

Answer: (B)

Hair integrity must be established before proceeding with chemical texture services. If the hair shows signs of damage, the best move is to postpone the service. Chemical texture processing relies on breaking and reforming disulfide bonds, and damaged hair has a compromised cuticle and weakened cortex. This increases the risk of further breakage, uneven processing, excessive swelling, or scalp irritation. By postponing, you give time to repair and strengthen the hair with conditioning treatments and any needed trims, then reassess. After improvement, perform a strand test to confirm the hair can withstand the chemical process and proceed only if it demonstrates adequate strength and elasticity. This protects the client’s hair and helps ensure safe, predictable results.