In acid waves that require heat, what role does the heat from the dryer play?

• A. It gradually raises the pH, enabling the wave to form
• B. It lowers the pH
• C. It cools the hair
• D. It dries hair quickly but doesn’t affect pH

Answer: (A)

Heat in an acid wave is what drives the chemical reaction forward by gradually raising the pH, which allows the waving solution to break and reform the hair’s disulfide bonds into the new curl pattern. The energy from the dryer helps the solution move toward the level where bond breakage and reformation occur, so the curl develops with processing. Without this heating effect, the acid wave would process much more slowly or not form as intended.

The alternative that pH lowers with heat isn’t accurate for this process, and cooling or simply drying the hair wouldn’t promote the chemical changes needed to create the wave.