What is the role of the neutralizer in a perm service?

• A. It nourishes the hair and adds moisture.
• B. It re-oxidizes the hair and reforms disulfide bonds in the new curl pattern, locking the curl in place.
• C. It removes excess product from hair.
• D. It bleaches the hair to lighten color.

Answer: (B)

In a perm, the hair’s disulfide bonds are first broken by a reducing solution to soften and reshape the strand. The neutralizer’s job is to re‑oxidize those bonds and reform them in the new curl pattern, effectively locking the hair into its new shape. It uses an oxidizing agent to re-create the disulfide bonds and stabilize the curl, while also stopping the reducing reaction and helping restore the hair’s normal structure and pH. Other steps, like nourishing moisture, removing excess product, or bleaching, aren’t the neutralizer’s function.