What does "overprocessing" refer to in chemical services?

Overprocessing refers to excessive chemical treatments that lead to damage. In the context of chemical services, this can occur when a stylist applies chemical processes, such as coloring, perming, or relaxing, more frequently than the hair can tolerate or uses products with strong formulations that are too harsh for the hair’s condition.

This results in the hair becoming over-treated, which can lead to significant damage, such as dryness, brittleness, loss of elasticity, and breakage. Understanding the limits of the hair's health and the appropriate timing between services is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the hair. Recognizing the signs of overprocessing helps professionals make better choices in their treatments to prevent irreversible damage.

The other options refer to aspects of chemical services but do not capture the comprehensive result of repeated or overly aggressive chemical treatment that characterizes overprocessing. For example, while using too much product on hair can lead to buildup, it does not encompass the damage caused by excessive treatment. Similarly, improper mixing of chemical solutions and skipping conditioning treatments can contribute to issues, but they do not address the broad concept of cumulative damage from overexposure to chemicals.