Which chemical service requires a strand test?

A strand test is an essential procedure performed to assess how hair will react to chemical services, particularly in cases where permanent changes are made to the hair structure. With hair relaxing treatments, it's crucial to determine the hair's tolerance and how effectively the chemicals will alter its texture. The strand test helps predict the final outcome, ensuring the stylist can control the amount of product used and the processing time to avoid damage or undesired results.

In the context of coloring, while it is wise to perform a test to check for allergies or sensitivities, it is not as critical as it is for relaxers since the effects on structure are not as intense. Perming also shares some similarities with relaxing in terms of chemical processing, but the unique requirements of hair texture and structure with relaxers make strand testing particularly vital for achieving the desired smoothness without compromising the hair integrity. Deep conditioning treatments typically do not alter the hair's structure, and therefore do not necessitate a strand test.