Which perm should be wrapped without tension (minimal stretching or straining of the hair)?

• A. Alkaline perms
• B. Acid perms
• C. Neutral perms
• D. Thermal perms

Answer: (A)

Wrapping with no tension is tied to how the chemical action and swelling of the hair interact with the wrap. Alkaline perms, done at a high pH, cause the hair to swell more and react strongly during processing. To prevent stretching the hair as it swells and to keep the curl uniform around the rod, these perms are wrapped with minimal or no tension. This helps avoid creating straight or stretched sections and reduces the risk of damage from over-manipulation during the wrap.

Other perm types rely more on physical control during wrapping or on heat to set the curl, so they aren’t typically wrapped without tension.