California State Board Barber Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

The presence of scalp abrasions or irritation serves as a contraindication for using chemical relaxers because these conditions can significantly increase the risk of chemical burns or further irritation to the scalp. Chemical relaxers contain strong alkalis that are designed to break down the hair's natural structure to straighten it. If there are cuts, sores, or inflamed areas on the scalp, the chemicals may penetrate more deeply into the skin, leading to adverse reactions. Therefore, applying a chemical relaxer under these circumstances can cause pain, discomfort, and damage, both to the skin and potentially the hair.

On the other hand, a dry scalp, recent hair coloring, or fine hair texture do not inherently pose the same immediate kind of risk that could arise from using a chemical relaxer on an already compromised scalp. While these conditions may warrant caution, they do not explicitly contraindicate the use of chemical relaxers in the same way that scalp abrasions or irritation do.