After immersing 20 strands of hair in the chemical mixture for 30 minutes, which test should be performed?

• A. Test for metallic salts
• B. Perform a strand test for elasticity
• C. Check for color change
• D. Test for keratin damage

Answer: (A)

Before any chemical texturizing service, you need to check for metallic salts in the hair. Metals like copper or iron can react with the chemicals in perm solutions, causing unpredictable processing, excessive heat, or hair damage. The test that uses immersing a strand in the chemical mixture for a set time is designed to reveal this risk directly. If the strand shows an abnormal reaction—such as unusual swelling, rapid processing, or damage—this indicates metallic salts are present and the standard chemical process should not be used. The reason this test is the best choice is that it screens for a specific safety issue that could otherwise lead to severe damage or poor results, something elasticity checks or color-change observations don’t reliably detect.