PSI Cosmetology Practice Exam

All of the following are roles of the alkalizer EXCEPT?

1. Making a chemical change.

2. Making a physical change.

3. Enhancing color.

4. Increasing penetration.

The correct answer is: Making a physical change.

In the context of hair chemistry, alkalizers play a crucial role in processes like permanent waving and hair coloring. Their primary function is to increase the pH of a solution, which leads to chemical changes in the hair structure, allowing for the alteration of the hair's natural state. The specific correct answer here indicates that making a physical change is not a role of the alkalizer. Instead, alkalizers facilitate chemical changes by breaking down the disulfide bonds in the hair during processes like perming or altering the hair's ability to absorb color by opening the cuticle. They enhance the effectiveness of the chemical reactions that take place rather than contributing to physical changes. While alkalizers can enhance color and increase penetration of the products into the hair, they do not create a physical change, which would involve a transformation that does not alter the chemical structure of the hair. Therefore, focusing on the role of alkalizers emphasizes their function in facilitating chemical reactions rather than physical transformations.