Hawaii Cosmetology License Practice Test

The function of a perm solution is to break down the disulfide bonds in hair to alter its structure. When perming hair, the solution contains chemicals that relax the hair's natural curl pattern by essentially altering the protein structure of the hair. Disulfide bonds are responsible for maintaining the hair's shape and structure; by breaking these bonds, the hair can be reshaped around the curling rods or rollers applied during the perming process.

After the disulfide bonds are broken, the hair is wrapped into the desired curl shape, and a neutralizer is applied to reform the bonds in this new shape. This creates a lasting wave or curl in the hair, which can significantly change the hair's texture and appearance.

The other options are focused on different hair care processes. While strengthening hair strands might involve treatments like keratin or protein masks, and adding moisture pertains to deep conditioning or hydrating products, enhancing natural curl patterns could relate more to styling products rather than the fundamental chemical process involved in perming.