During oxidation in hair coloring, where are color molecules formed and trapped?

During oxidation in hair coloring, where are color molecules formed and trapped?

• A. In the medulla
• B. In the cuticle
• C. Inside the cortex
• D. On the surface of the hair

Answer: (C)

During oxidative hair coloring, the dye precursors are oxidized by the developer to form color molecules inside the cortex. The cortex is where pigment resides and where these newly formed dye molecules become stable and held in place. The cuticle acts as a protective barrier; once the pigment forms, it gets trapped in the cortex because the molecules are large and cannot easily migrate back through the closed cuticle. The medulla isn’t where color formation typically occurs, and pigment forming on the surface wouldn’t be securely retained. So, color molecules are formed and trapped inside the cortex.

During oxidative hair coloring, the dye precursors are oxidized by the developer to form color molecules inside the cortex. The cortex is where pigment resides and where these newly formed dye molecules become stable and held in place. The cuticle acts as a protective barrier; once the pigment forms, it gets trapped in the cortex because the molecules are large and cannot easily migrate back through the closed cuticle. The medulla isn’t where color formation typically occurs, and pigment forming on the surface wouldn’t be securely retained. So, color molecules are formed and trapped inside the cortex.