Final answer:
Option (A), After neutralizing a soft-curl perm, it's important to rinse the hair thoroughly to wash out all the neutralizer, preventing damage and setting the new curls.
Step-by-step explanation:
After properly neutralizing a soft-curl perm, it is important to rinse the hair thoroughly. This step is crucial to ensure that all the chemical neutralizer is washed out of the hair, avoiding damage and ensuring that the new curl pattern remains intact.
The neutralizer used in perming, usually a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide, restructures the disulfide bonds in the hair by oxidizing them in their new shape around the rollers or curlers. After the neutralizing solution has done its work, the hair has to be carefully rinsed to stop the chemical process and set the new curls.
It is not recommended to apply additional perm solution or dry the hair with a hot dryer immediately after neutralization, as this could lead to hair damage. Removing the rods carefully is also important, but the most essential immediate follow-up action is the thorough rinse.