What is the typical pH range for alkaline perms?

• A. Roughly 9.0–9.6
• B. Roughly 4.5–5.5
• C. Roughly 6.0–6.5
• D. Roughly 12.0–13.0

Answer: (A)

Alkaline perms rely on a high-pH chemical to penetrate the hair and break disulfide bonds so the hair can take on a new shape. The typical pH for these perms is about 9.0 to 9.6. At this alkaline level, the hair shaft swells and the reducing agent can effectively soften and reduce the bonds, allowing rearrangement around a curl or straightened form. After reshaping, a neutralizer reforms the bonds in the new configuration to fix the result. Lower pH ranges, like 4.5–5.5 or 6.0–6.5, are milder and used for acid perms or gentler processing; they don’t break bonds as aggressively. A pH of 12–13 would be far too harsh and risky, causing severe damage, so it isn’t used for standard perming.