The physical changes that take place within the hair structure

1. 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

2. Poly peptide chain • This is made up of keratin • The keratin is a combination of - • Carbon • Hydrogen • Oxygen • Sulphur • Nitrogen

3. Hydrogen bonds • These are temporarily broken during the setting or blow-drying process

4. 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 enviroment

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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