Ace the California Cosmetology Exam 2025 – Style Your Way to Success!

The first step in a chemical relaxer service is performing a strand test. This crucial step helps determine how the hair will react to the relaxer, allowing the stylist to assess the hair's texture, porosity, and overall condition. By performing a strand test, the stylist can also identify the appropriate processing time needed to achieve the desired results while minimizing damage to the hair.

Understanding the hair's response to the chemical relaxer is essential for achieving an even and effective transformation. The strand test provides insight into how the relaxer will alter the hair's structure, which is particularly important in preventing over-processing.

In contrast, applying the relaxer, rinsing the hair, and sectioning the hair strands are all subsequent steps that rely on the insights gained from the strand test. These steps contribute to the overall process but cannot be effectively performed without the foundational assessment provided by the strand test.