New Jersey Barber and Hairstyling Practice Exam

Permanent wave solution causes the hair that is wound on rods to:

1. Revert

2. Expand

3. Contract

4. Discolor

The correct answer is: Contract

While it's true that permanent wave solution chemically alters the bonds in hair, causing them to break and then reform in their new shape, the key to creating a permanent wave is the winding of the hair onto rods. The solution may initially cause the hair to expand and contract, but ultimately the hair will contract as it sets into its new curly or wavy shape. Option A, "revert," is incorrect because this refers to hair returning to its original shape, which is actually the opposite of what happens with a permanent wave. Option B, "expand," is incorrect because while hair may initially expand when the solution is applied, it ultimately contracts as it sets into its new shape. Option D, "discolor," is incorrect because while hair may become discolored if the solution is left on for too long, this is not the intended result of a permanent wave.