The second chemical product used in perms called ______________, reforms disulfide bonds in a new _______________.

• A. Neutralizer, configuration
• B. Catalyst, pattern
• C. Oxidizer, arrangement
• D. Reducer, form

Answer: (A)

During a perm, the hair’s disulfide bonds are temporarily broken so the hair can be reshaped. The second chemical applied is the neutralizer, which oxidizes the newly formed sulfhydryl groups back into disulfide bonds. This re-forms the bonds in the new arrangement, effectively “setting” the curl or wave pattern in place. So the neutralizer is the agent that re-creates the cross-links in a new configuration, locking in the perm’s result.