What is the first action when performing a preliminary test curl?

• A. Shampoo hair once using gentle massage movements and gently towel dry
• B. Wrap one perm rod in a concealed area
• C. Apply protective cream to its surrounding area and cover with plastic
• D. Rap coil of cotton around perm rod to protect surrounding hair from chemicals

Answer: (A)

A preliminary test curl starts with preparing clean hair. Shampooing once removes oils, styling products, and residue that can block or unevenly affect how the waving solution penetrates the hair. When the hair is clean, you get a true reading of how the curl will form and how long the processing should take for that client’s texture and porosity. After washing and gently towel drying, you would then proceed to wrap a small section around a perm rod and continue with the protective steps as part of the test, but cleansing first is essential to ensure accurate results.