Which hair characteristic tends to result in faster chemical processing?

Which hair characteristic tends to result in faster chemical processing?

• A. Coarse or resistant hair
• B. Porous or fine hair
• C. Thick curly hair
• D. Non-porous hair

Answer: (B)

Understanding how easily a chemical can enter the hair shaft tells us how fast processing will happen. Porous hair has the cuticle more open or damaged, so chemical solutions penetrate quickly into the cortex, shortening the processing time. Fine hair has less mass, so there’s less hair to treat and the product can reach the cortex faster, also speeding up processing. Together, porous or fine hair tends to process more rapidly than hair that is non-porous, coarse, or very dense, which resists penetration and requires longer processing. Coarse or resistant, thick curly, or non-porous hair slows down the process because the cuticle is tighter or the hair is bulkier, making it harder for the chemical to penetrate.

Understanding how easily a chemical can enter the hair shaft tells us how fast processing will happen. Porous hair has the cuticle more open or damaged, so chemical solutions penetrate quickly into the cortex, shortening the processing time. Fine hair has less mass, so there’s less hair to treat and the product can reach the cortex faster, also speeding up processing. Together, porous or fine hair tends to process more rapidly than hair that is non-porous, coarse, or very dense, which resists penetration and requires longer processing. Coarse or resistant, thick curly, or non-porous hair slows down the process because the cuticle is tighter or the hair is bulkier, making it harder for the chemical to penetrate.