Chemical Texture and Scalp Treatments
Chemical Texture and Scalp Treatments
This domain tests scalp assessment, perm and relaxer chemistry, neutralisation and safe treatment of scalp disorders.
Core rules
- Examine the scalp before any chemical service. Do not proceed on cuts, abrasions, burns, active dermatitis, recent colour burns or suspected fungal infection; refer.
- Perming breaks disulphide bonds with a reducing agent, reshapes on rods, then neutralises to rebuild bonds. Follow processing time and rod size; do not overprocess.
- Relaxers are alkaline; strengths are mild, regular and super. Protect previously relaxed hair, avoid overlapping, smooth without scrubbing, and neutralise fully with neutralizing shampoo.
- Scalp treatments: medicated shampoo for dandruff may help, but ringworm, psoriasis and severe seborrheic dermatitis need medical care. Do not diagnose.
- Patch-test and strand-test; wear gloves; ventilate; keep chemicals off skin and eyes.
Worked example
A client wants a perm but has an itchy, flaky scalp with a small scab from scratching. Reasoning: a reducing agent on broken skin will sting, burn and may cause infection. The correct action is to defer the perm, treat gently with a mild antidandruff shampoo, advise not to scratch, and refer if the scalp is inflamed or ringworm is suspected. Rebook only when intact.
Traps
- Perming over a scalp abrasion.
- Under-neutralising a relaxer, leaving hair weak.
- Overlapping relaxer on already relaxed hair.
- Treating ringworm with salon shampoo only.
- Using heat immediately after a chemical service.