Cosmetology Chemical Texture Services Practice Questions
Chemical Texture Services makes up 5 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Cosmetology practice test. Here are 10 of the 20 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. These sets follow the NIC theory exam only: 110 items, 100 scored, 90 minutes (outline effective July 1, 2022). PSI states, including California from April 1, 2026, use a 120-minute outline. This bank is not weighted to PSI.
1. The reducing agent in an alkaline permanent wave is:
- A.Hydrogen peroxide
- B.Ammonium thioglycolate
- C.Glyceryl monothioglycolate
- D.Sodium hydroxide
Answer: B. Alkaline (cold) waves use ammonium thioglycolate at a pH of about 9.0 to 9.6. Glyceryl monothioglycolate is the agent in true acid waves, and hydroxide is a relaxer chemical.
2. Permanent waving solution breaks which bonds in the hair?
- A.Ionic salt bonds
- B.Peptide bonds
- C.Hydrogen bonds
- D.Disulfide bonds
Answer: D. The waving lotion breaks the disulfide bonds so the hair can take the shape of the rod. Hydrogen and salt bonds are broken by water and pH changes in wet setting, and peptide bonds hold the chain itself.
3. The chemical process that breaks disulfide bonds during a perm is:
- A.Reduction
- B.Hydrolysis
- C.Oxidation
- D.Neutralization
Answer: A. Thioglycolate adds hydrogen to the disulfide bond, which is a reduction reaction. The neutralizer later oxidizes the hair to rebuild the bonds.
4. The most common neutralizer in permanent waving is:
- A.Thioglycolic acid
- B.Sodium hydroxide
- C.Hydrogen peroxide
- D.Ammonium hydroxide
Answer: C. Most neutralizers are hydrogen peroxide, which removes the added hydrogen and reforms the disulfide bonds in their new position. Sodium bromate is a less common alternative.
5. The neutralizer rebuilds disulfide bonds through:
- A.Emulsification
- B.Saponification
- C.Oxidation
- D.Reduction
Answer: C. Neutralizing is an oxidation reaction: the peroxide takes the extra hydrogen off the broken bonds so they rejoin, locking in the curl. It also lowers the pH back toward normal.
6. Alkaline waves generally have a pH of:
- A.9.0 to 9.6
- B.7.0 to 7.5
- C.7.8 to 8.2
- D.4.5 to 5.5
Answer: A. Alkaline waves sit at about pH 9.0 to 9.6, which swells the hair and lets the solution penetrate quickly. Acid-balanced waves are 7.8 to 8.2 and true acid waves are below 7.
7. Compared with an alkaline wave, an acid wave produces:
- A.More cuticle swelling
- B.A firmer curl
- C.A faster process
- D.A softer curl
Answer: D. Acid waves process more slowly with less swelling and give a softer, looser curl, which suits fine, damaged or color-treated hair. Alkaline waves give a firmer curl faster.
8. The size of the curl in a perm is determined by the:
- A.Length of the rod
- B.Diameter of the rod
- C.Strength of the solution
- D.Processing time
Answer: B. Hair wrapped around a small-diameter rod forms a tight curl and a large rod forms a loose one. Solution strength and timing affect how fully the curl forms, not its size.
9. Which end-paper technique folds one paper over the ends of the hair like a book cover?
- A.Croquignole wrap
- B.Bookend wrap
- C.Double flat wrap
- D.Single flat wrap
Answer: B. The bookend wrap folds a single end paper in half over the ends. The single flat wrap uses one paper on top, and the double flat wrap sandwiches the ends between two papers.
10. Wrapping hair from the ends toward the scalp in overlapping layers is called:
- A.Piggyback wrapping
- B.Bricklay wrapping
- C.Spiral wrapping
- D.Croquignole wrapping
Answer: D. Croquignole wrapping winds the hair from the ends up to the scalp so each turn overlaps the last, producing a tighter curl at the ends. Spiral wrapping winds the hair at an angle along the rod.
Practice all 20 chemical texture services questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free Cosmetology training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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