332A perms and relaxers practice questions.

Five free practice questions on perms and relaxers: block E of the Red Seal 332A Hairstylist exam, about 17 of its 120 questions. They are in the exam's format: four options, one correct answer. Answer each one before opening the explanation. No account, no email.

01The questions

1. Recall · Processes hair with waving and neutralizing solutions

   What is the typical pH range of an alkaline (cold) waving solution?

   1. 9.0 to 9.6
   2. 6.5 to 7.0
   3. 4.5 to 5.5
   4. 11.5 to 13.5
   Show the answer

   A. Correct. Alkaline waves based on ammonium thioglycolate run at about pH 9.0 to 9.6, processing at room temperature and giving firm curl. Acid-balanced waves sit lower (about 7.8 to 8.2) and are gentler on fragile hair.

   Why not the others

   B. That is the range of a true acid wave, which relies on heat rather than high alkalinity to process. Alkaline waves sit around 9.0 to 9.6.

   C. That is the natural pH range of hair and skin — where hair is at its strongest. An alkaline wave must be well above it to swell the cuticle and reach the cortex: about 9.0 to 9.6.

   D. That range belongs to sodium hydroxide relaxers — far too caustic for a waving lotion. Alkaline waving solution is about 9.0 to 9.6.

2. Procedural · Processes hair with chemical relaxers and neutralizing products

   A texture service uses a thio-based smoothing system. After processing, rinsing and blow-drying, the manufacturer directs the hairstylist to pass a flat iron through the hair in small sections. What is this step doing?

   1. Setting the smooth shape with heat, before the final finishing step.
   2. Testing whether the hair can tolerate future heat styling.
   3. Drying out leftover relaxer residue.
   4. Replacing the neutralizing step entirely.
   Show the answer

   A. Correct. Smoothing and re-forming systems use heat from flat irons and dryers as part of re-shaping the hair — the iron presses the softened hair straight in the new configuration, per the manufacturer's temperature and sectioning directions, before the final neutralizing/finishing step.

   Why not the others

   B. The service is not a tolerance experiment; the iron is a specified processing step in smoothing systems, forming the straight pattern the chemistry then locks in.

   C. Residue removal happens at the shampoo bowl through rinsing — an iron over chemical residue would bake it into the hair. The iron's role is shaping the smooth result.

   D. Heat shapes; chemistry sets. The system's neutralizing or finishing products are still required per the manufacturer — the iron does not chemically stabilize the hair by itself.

3. Procedural · Wraps hair

   Before winding each subsection onto the rod, the hairstylist combs the sub-sectioned hair smooth. What does this prevent?

   1. The solution from penetrating the hair too quickly.
   2. Crossed, bunched and slanted hair within the wound subsection.
   3. The hair from drying out during the wrap.
   4. Static electricity in the subsection.
   Show the answer

   B. Correct. Combing the subsection smooth ensures every strand lies parallel before winding. Crossed or bunched hair winds unevenly, takes solution unevenly, and can break where strands cross under tension.

   Why not the others

   A. Combing does not slow chemical penetration — porosity and solution strength control that. Smooth combing is about even strand alignment on the rod.

   C. Moisture is maintained with a water bottle during a long wrap, not by combing. The comb-smooth step exists to eliminate crossed, bunched and slanted strands.

   D. Static is a dry-hair styling issue; a wrap is done on clean damp hair. The purpose of combing smooth is parallel strand alignment for even winding.

4. Procedural · Removes chemical relaxers and neutralizing products

   Processing is complete on a sodium hydroxide relaxer. What must happen before the neutralizing shampoo is applied?

   1. The hair is blow-dried to stop the chemical action.
   2. A conditioner is applied to buffer the relaxer.
   3. The neutralizing shampoo is massaged into the unrinsed product.
   4. The relaxer is rinsed from the hair completely with warm water.
   Show the answer

   D. Correct. Every trace of relaxer is rinsed out first — thoroughly, with warm water at comfortable pressure, lifting the hair to reach the scalp and nape. Shampooing over remaining relaxer would work the caustic product against the scalp and leave residue processing in the hair.

   Why not the others

   A. Heat does not deactivate hydroxide — drying it in prolongs contact and adds thermal insult. Water removal by thorough rinsing is what stops the exposure.

   B. Conditioner over active relaxer neither removes nor neutralizes it. Conditioning has its place after neutralizing; rinsing comes first.

   C. Shampoo cannot neutralize a head still loaded with relaxer — massaging just grinds the chemical into the scalp. Complete rinsing always precedes the neutralizing shampoo.

5. Procedural · Removes tools

   While unwinding rods after a chemical wave, how should the end papers be handled?

   1. Removed gently as each rod is unwound, to avoid damaging the hair.
   2. Rinsed out later under running water.
   3. Pulled off quickly so damp hair does not stick to them.
   4. Left in the hair until it is fully dry.
   Show the answer

   A. Correct. As each rod comes out, the damp papers are peeled away gently. Freshly waved hair is at its most fragile, and papers pulled off carelessly can tangle, stretch or snap strands at the ends.

   Why not the others

   B. Relying on water pressure to dislodge papers means uncontrolled pulling and tangling at the shampoo bowl. They are removed by hand, gently, during unwinding.

   C. Speed is exactly the risk: yanking damp papers drags fragile ends with them. Gentle, deliberate removal protects the new curl.

   D. Papers left in would tangle into the curl and block styling and finishing. They come out with the rods — just gently.

02Answer key

03What block E covers

This block covers chemical texture services: permanent waves and relaxers. It includes rod selection, spiral, brick lay and piggyback wraps, end papers, alkaline, acid, exothermic and endothermic waving solutions, test curls and neutralizing, lye and no-lye hydroxide relaxers, thio relaxers, base cream, relaxer retouches, strand tests, neutralizing shampoo and protecting the scalp and hairline.

The Red Seal Occupational Standard names this block “Performs chemical texture services on hair”. It carries 14.2% of the exam, about 17 of the 120 questions, split across two tasks. The share column is each task's weight within the block, as the standard publishes it.

04What the questions turn on

Reduction, then oxidation

Thio waving solution breaks disulfide bonds by reduction so the softened hair takes the shape of the rod. The neutralizer, commonly hydrogen peroxide, re-forms the bonds by oxidation. The rods stay in until the neutralizer has had its full time.

Hydroxide and thio do not mix

Hydroxide relaxers convert disulfide bonds to lanthionine bonds, a permanent change no oxidizer reverses, so they finish with an acid-balanced neutralizing shampoo. Hair treated with a hydroxide relaxer must never get a thio service, or the reverse.

Reading the test curl

Unwind the rod 1.5 to 2 turns without pulling and look for a firm S shape that matches the rod. A weak wave that washes out means under-processing. Curly when wet but frizzy and limp when dry means over-processing.

Relaxer retouch and timing

Apply a retouch to the new growth only, because overlap re-processes relaxed hair and breakage happens at the line of demarcation. The maximum processing time is a limit, not a target: rinse once strand tests show the desired straightness.

05The other blocks

The 332A exam has eight blocks. Each has its own page of free questions:

The 332A Hairstylist practice exam page describes the full question bank. How these questions are written and checked: how our questions are made. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.