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Physical changes that take place within hair structure

The physical changes that take place within the hair structure

• Alpha keratin is when hair is in its natural shape

• Beta keratin is when hair has been set or blow-dried into a new shape

• Hair will remain in beta keratin until it is washed or moisture from the air attacks the hair then it will then return to Alpha keratin

Poly peptide chain

• This is made up of keratin

• The keratin is a combination of -

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Sulphur

• Nitrogen

The physical changes that take place within the hair structure

• Alpha keratin is when hair is in its natural shape

• Beta keratin is when hair has been set or blow-dried into a new shape

• Hair will remain in beta keratin until it is washed or moisture from the air attacks the hair then it will then return to Alpha keratin

Hydrogen bonds

• These are temporarily broken during the setting or blow-drying process

Wet setting

• Shampoo the hair to ensure it reverts back to its original state (alpha keratin) as the hydrogen bonds will break when water enters the cortex

• During the setting or blow-drying process hair is changed to beta keratin and will stay this way until it is shampooed again or until attacked by moisture from a humid environment

Dry setting

• You would not shampoo hair before a dry set and the bonds are not as easily broken

• By applying styling products in conjunction with heat a few bonds will be broken and give a much softer curl

Humidity

• This is moisture in the air and as hair has the ability to absorb moisture in a very humid environment this would attack a hairstyle and it would loose its shape due to the hair shaft swelling taking the hair back to alpha keratin

Allow hair to cool prior to dressing out

• This allows the hydrogen bonds to fix into their new state of beta keratin. It will also allow the style to last longer