Wyoming State Board Cosmetology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cosmetology Exam Questions and Study Guide

A perm creates disulfide bonds in the hair. These bonds are formed when sulfur atoms from the amino acids in the hair strands come together, creating a strong bond that helps to reshape the hair strands' structure. During the perming process, the hair is treated with chemicals that break the existing disulfide bonds, making the hair flexible. After the hair is wrapped in curlers or rods, a neutralizing solution is applied, which allows new disulfide bonds to form in the new shape, effectively establishing the curled style.

Hydrogen bonds, while present in hair, are weak and easily broken by heat or moisture, making them unsuitable for providing the lasting structure required for a perm. Covalent bonds are a broader category of bonds that include disulfide bonds but are not specific to the perm process. Ionic bonds involve the attraction between charged particles and do not play a significant role in hair structure or perming. Understanding the specific role of disulfide bonds is crucial in the context of permanent waving and hairstyling.