South Dakota Cosmetology Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A cold perm, also known as an alkaline perm, utilizes chemical solutions to break and reform the disulfide bonds in the hair, allowing it to take on a new shape or curl pattern. This process involves the application of a cold perm solution, which typically contains ammonium thioglycolate, a chemical that works at room temperature to soften the hair's structure, making it pliable for curling on rods. The setting of the curls is completed with a neutralizer that re-establishes the disulfide bonds in the new shape.

In contrast, hot perms, or exothermic perms, rely on the combination of heat and chemical solutions to create curls. These perms use heat to facilitate the process, which can alter how the hair responds to the chemicals involved.

The mention of no chemicals in the first choice indicates a misunderstanding of how perms function, as both cold and hot perms require chemical solutions to permanently change the hair's structure. The option regarding hot perms being the gentlest is also misleading, as the degree of gentleness can vary depending on the hair type and the specific formulations used, rather than being a definitive characteristic of hot perms.