Wyoming State Board Barber Practice Exam 2025 - Free Barber Practice Questions and Study Guide

Sodium hydroxide is a common ingredient in hair relaxers because it serves as a powerful alkaline agent that helps to break down the protein structure of the hair, specifically the disulfide bonds. This process allows the hair to straighten by altering its natural curl pattern. The chemical reactivity of sodium hydroxide makes it effective in relaxing tight or curly hair textures, enabling smoother and more manageable hair styles.

While ammonium thioglycolate is also used in some smoothing and perm solutions, it functions differently compared to sodium hydroxide. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is primarily a bleaching and oxidizing agent, not used for relaxation purposes. Alcohol is commonly found in various hair products for its solvent properties but does not directly contribute to the hair relaxing process.

Understanding the role of sodium hydroxide in hair relaxers helps in recognizing the chemical processes behind hair styling and maintenance, which are critical for barbers and haircare professionals.