Red Seal Hairstylist Practice Exam

The neutralizer plays a crucial role in the perming process by reforming the disulfide bonds in the hair. During the perm, the hair is treated with a reducing agent that breaks the disulfide bonds, allowing the hair to be reshaped. After the desired shape is achieved, applying the neutralizer causes these broken bonds to be reformed in their new configuration, thus locking the wave or curl into place.

This step is essential for ensuring that the new shape of the hair is maintained after the perming solution is rinsed out. Without the neutralizer, the hair would likely revert to its original shape as the bonds would not be properly reformed, leading to an ineffective perm. In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of the neutralizer in the perming process.