New York State Cosmetology Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of quanidine hydroxide relaxers?

1. No need for an activator

2. Less scalp irritation and more drying to hair

3. Increases hair's elasticity

4. Decreases hair porosity

The correct answer is: Less scalp irritation and more drying to hair

Quanidine hydroxide relaxers are known for causing less scalp irritation compared to other relaxers such as sodium hydroxide. However, they can be more drying to hair since they break down the hair's protein bonds. This may lead to brittle and dry hair. Therefore, the characteristic of quanidine hydroxide relaxers being less irritating to the scalp and more drying to the hair makes option B the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because all relaxers require an activator to be effective. Option C is incorrect because quanidine hydroxide relaxer does not increase hair's elasticity but rather breaks down the hair's bonds, causing it to straighten and lose its natural shape and elasticity. Option D is incorrect because quanidine hydroxide relaxers do not decrease hair porosity. In fact, they can increase porosity by damaging the hair's protein structure.