Exothermic chemical waves are activated by what?

• A. Heat
• B. Light
• C. Electricity
• D. Chemicals

Answer: (D)

Exothermic chemical waves rely on a chemical reaction to start and drive the waving process. When the waving solution components interact with the hair’s keratin, they break and then rebuild the disulfide bonds in the hair, and this chemical activity releases heat as the reaction proceeds. That release of energy is produced by the chemicals themselves, so activation comes from the chemical reaction in the solution, not from applying external heat, light, or electricity. Heat shows up as a consequence of the reaction, not as the trigger. Light and electricity aren’t the mechanisms that initiate the wave in this type of process.