National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Cosmetology Practice Exam

What should you do if the hair is processing slowly during a relaxer treatment?

1. Add more relaxer

2. Rinse the hair immediately

3. Place a cap over the hair and seat the client under a warm hair dryer

4. Use a cooler setting on the hair dryer

The correct answer is: Place a cap over the hair and seat the client under a warm hair dryer

If the hair is processing slowly during a relaxer treatment, placing a cap over the hair and seating the client under a warm hair dryer is the appropriate action. This technique helps to create a warm, controlled environment that can enhance the effectiveness of the relaxer. Heat can help open the cuticle layer of the hair, allowing the relaxer to penetrate more effectively, which is especially useful if the hair is resistant to the chemical process. Using this method can expedite the relaxation process, helping achieve smoother and straighter hair more effectively than without added heat. In contrast, other approaches like adding more relaxer or rinsing the hair immediately may not address the fundamental issue of slow processing and could potentially lead to over-processing or undesirable results. Utilizing a cooler setting on the dryer, on the other hand, would not support the processing of the relaxer and might prolong the treatment time unnecessarily.