Acid perms are also known as what type of perms?

• A. Heat perms
• B. Cold perms
• C. Neutral perms
• D. Alkaline perms

Answer: (A)

Acid perms are processed with an acid-based solution and rely on applying heat to activate the wave and soften the hair so the bonds can break and re-form around the rods. The heat helps the chemical reaction proceed more evenly and quickly, which is why this type is commonly referred to as a heat perm. After wrapping, the neutralizer then oxidizes the new bond structure to set the curl pattern. This contrasts with alkaline perms, which use a high-pH solution and are typically done with less or no heat, often called cold perms. So the term heat perm reflects the role of warmth in activating the acid-based wave for acid perms.