Q: Please explain the difference of acid perm vs. alkaline perm. When to use and on what type of hair?
A: The difference between acid waves and alkaline waves are basically this:
Acid waves usually have a pH rating between 4.5 and 7.0 and require heat to speed processing. The
main ingredient in an acid perm is glyceryl monothioglycolate. Since hair has a pH of around 5.0 acid waves are less damaging to the
hair, require the heat of a dryer usually and typically do not produce as firm a curl as an alkaline wave. You will want to use acid
waves for those individuals with very fine textured hair or those whose hair is damaged or has been processed with other harsh chemical services again.
Alakine waves are made using an alkaline ingredient, generally ammonium thioglycolate. They are also
usually between 9.0 and 9.6 in pH. Alkaline waves are also called “cold waves” since they don’t need any extra heat source to process.
These work best on hair that is coarse, thick or resistant to processing as well as “normal” virgin hair as they are much stronger when compared to Acid waves.
