Study for the Virginia Cosmetology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What affects the working time of a lightener?

  1. Porosity of the hair

  2. Type of developer used

  3. Amount of melanin present

  4. Temperature of the scalp

The correct answer is: Amount of melanin present

The amount of melanin present in the hair affects the working time of a lightener. Lighteners work by breaking down the melanin in the hair, which is responsible for its natural color. Therefore, the more melanin present, the longer it will take for the lightener to lift the hair to the desired level. The other options may also play a role in the lightening process, but they do not directly affect the working time of the lightener. For example, the porosity of the hair and the type of developer used can affect how quickly the lightener will process, but they are not the main determining factor. The temperature of the scalp is important to consider as it can affect the health of the hair, but it does not have a direct impact on the working time of the lightener.