Redseal Hairstyling License Practice Test

Which bonds are broken during the perming process?

1. Peptide bonds

2. Disulfide bonds

3. Hydrogen bonds

4. Ionic bonds

The correct answer is: Disulfide bonds

The process of perming hair involves breaking and reforming specific bonds to alter its structure and create curls or waves. During perming, disulfide bonds, which are covalent bonds formed between the sulfur atoms in the amino acids cysteine, are broken. This is essential because these bonds significantly influence the hair's shape and structure. When a chemical solution is applied during perming, it opens these disulfide bonds, allowing the hair to be reshaped. After the hair is wrapped in curlers and the new shape is set, a neutralizing solution is applied. This solution helps to reform the disulfide bonds in their new configuration, effectively locking in the new curly or wavy style. While hydrogen bonds can also be affected in the process (as they are relatively weak and can be temporarily altered by water and heat), it is the breaking of disulfide bonds that allows for a more permanent change in the hair's structure. Peptide bonds, which link amino acids in the hair's protein structure, remain intact during this process. Ionic bonds, while they do exist, do not play a major role in the perming process compared to disulfide bonds.