The Science
This part of the hair shaft is where permanent chemical changes happen.
What is the Cortex?
This Mizani relaxer line is specifically formulated for clients with sensitivity concerns for their scalp?
What is Mizani Butter Blend Sensitive Scalp Relaxer?
A client has had a relaxer before. You are only applying product to the new growth. This service is called a ___.
What is a Retouch?
In this wrapping technique, the hair is wound from ends to scalp in a continuous coil down the rod.
What is Croquignole Wrap?
A client walks in wanting a sodium hydroxide relaxer. You notice small abrasions on her scalp. Your next step is____
What is Decline The Service?
Do NOT proceed — reschedule the service. Chemical on broken skin = chemical burn.
This type of bond is broken and reformed during both relaxer and perm services.
What is Disulfide Bond?
Opti Smooth is classified as this type of chemical texture service — not a hydroxide relaxer.
What is a Smoothing / Keratin-style Treatment (THIO-based)
Applying relaxer product over previously relaxed hair during a retouch service causes this.
What is Overprocessing / Overlapping, and Breakage?
This wrapping technique winds hair around the rod vertically — from scalp to ends — creating a corkscrew curl.
What is Spiral Wrap?
Before any chemical texture service, you must perform this test to determine if the hair can withstand the service.
What is an Strand test (and Elasticity Test)?
The pH scale runs from 0–14. Relaxers are on this side of the scale.
What is Alkaline? ( High pH)
In the Matrix ISO perm line, this number is the STRONGEST alkaline wave — designed for resistant, coarse, or hard-to-wave hair.
What is EXO 1?
This is the step that protects the scalp before a base relaxer is applied.
What is Basing The Scalp? (applying protective base cream)
A client has very long hair and you want maximum curl definition at both ends. You use two rods per section. This technique is called ___.
What is Piggy Back?
One of the REAL reason many students are more nervous about sodium hydroxide than 40vol bleach — even though both carry similar risk at proper application is ___
What is Unconscious Bias — NaOH is associated with Black hair care; the fear is cultural, not purely chemical
This is the chemical process that STOPS a relaxer or perm service by restoring pH and re-hardening bonds.
What is Neutralization?
Matrix Apple Pectin is this type of perm — gentler, lower pH, better for color-treated or fragile hair.
What is Acid Wave (acid-balanced perm)?
Applying a sodium hydroxide relaxer over a previously thio-relaxed service in the same visit will cause this.
What is Severe Overprocessing/Breakage?
In a bricklay pattern, sections are offset like bricks in a wall. ONE main reason a colorist or stylist would choose this pattern is ___
What is Eliminates Visible Part Lines /Section Marks — gives a more natural, seamless wave pattern?
A client had a hydroxide relaxer 8 weeks ago and now wants a perm. You proceed by ___
What is Declining The Service? Hydroxide relaxers and perms are chemically incompatible. Hydroxide permanently removes the disulfide bonds that perms need to rearrange. Hair will break.
Sodium hydroxide relaxers break disulfide bonds permanently through this chemical process — unlike thio relaxers which rearrange them.
What is Lanthionization?
Mizani Butter Blend comes in these three strength options. Name all three.
What is Mild, Regular, and Super? **Sensitive Scalp is also in the Butter Blend Family.
When applying a relaxer to the you need to stay this far away from the scalp during initial application?
What is 1/4 to 1/2 in?
You are perming a client with Type 3 curly hair using EXO 3. Two adjustments you would make vs. perming straight hair at the same length would be ___
What is Any two of: smaller rod size / shorter processing time / careful saturation on curl pattern / extra attention to even waving lotion distribution / test curl earlier
DAILY DOUBLE: A client has 30% gray, Type 4 coily hair, and is coming in for her first virgin relaxer with Mizani Butter Blend. Walk through your complete decision process from strength selection to aftercare.
Assess texture/density/porosity first. Gray hair is resistant — may need Regular or Super. Type 4 coil = careful sectioning, thorough basing, smooth systematically section by section. Strand test. Monitor closely — coily textures can process faster. Condition with cap for 10 min. Neutralize thoroughly 2-5 rounds.