Montana Cosmetology Licensure Practice Exam

The main ingredient in most permanent hair color formulas is ammonia. Ammonia plays a crucial role in the hair coloring process as it serves to open the hair cuticle, allowing the color molecules to penetrate the hair shaft effectively. This penetration is necessary for the color to bond within the hair, resulting in a longer-lasting change that is not easily washed out. The alkaline nature of ammonia raises the pH of the hair, which is essential for achieving the desired level of lift and deposit of the color pigments.

While other substances like hydrogen peroxide are integral to the hair coloring process, as they function as an oxidizer to facilitate the development of the hair dye, they do not perform the same function of opening the cuticle as ammonia does. Alcohol is typically not a main ingredient in permanent hair color but may be present in some formulations for conditioning or preservative purposes. Water is often included in hair color products as a solvent or carrier for other ingredients, but it does not contribute to the chemical reaction necessary for coloring the hair. Thus, ammonia’s role as the key ingredient highlights its significance in permanent hair coloring formulations.