The document explains the physical changes in hair structure, highlighting the difference between alpha and beta keratin. Alpha keratin represents hair in its natural shape, while beta keratin is the result of styling; hair can switch between these states due to moisture exposure. It also discusses the role of hydrogen bonds and humidity in maintaining or altering hairstyles.

1. Physical changes that take place within hair
structure
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2. 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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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
environment

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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