how does a perm work chemically

Best answer


In a standard 鈥昪old鈥?perm,hair is put into curlers and the reducing agent ammonium thioglycolate is added. The disulfide bonds break and keratin molecules are now free to move around and adjust to the shape of the curl. Then a 鈥昻eutralizer,鈥?such as hydrogen peroxide, is added to reverse the effect of the reducing agent. New disulfide bonds form so the keratin molecules are locked into the shape of the curls.

People also ask


  • What is a perm and how does it work?

  • A perm (short for the word 鈥榩ermanent鈥? is the hairstyling process used to change the texture of hair to a curlier or wavier texture. In other words, it can be used to transform straight hair into bouncy, fun curls or relaxed stylish waves.

  • How does a chemical Perm change your hair?

  • The chemical process permanently alters your hair鈥檚 structure from straight to curly. Traditionally, perms are a process in which straight hair is wrapped around rollers or rods, and a perm solution is applied to the hair鈥攖his is what is known as a cold perm.

  • How does moisture affect a perm?

  • Balancing the moisture of your client鈥檚 hair can have a huge effect on the outcome of their perm. If your client鈥檚 hair isn鈥檛 dry, then the chemicals and heat can easily burn it. Burned hair breaks and splits far easier than moisture rich hair.

  • What happens during the perming process?

  • During the perming process, the hair structure goes through three stages to take on its new shape. It鈥檚 helpful to have an understanding of the different stages, so we鈥檝e outlined them below: Once the perm lotion is applied, the perm lotion swells the hair cuticle layers and enters the cortex. The softening phase of the perming process.

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