Which of the following is a common sign of overprocessed hair?

• A. Hair becomes extremely shiny
• B. Weak, brittle, or gummy
• C. Hair grows faster
• D. Color fades immediately

Answer: (B)

Overprocessing damages the hair’s structure from too much chemical action, which weakens the strand and reduces elasticity. When hair has been overprocessed, it becomes dry, brittle, and prone to breakage, and may even feel gummy—soft, mushy, or stringy to the touch. This happens because the chemical processing alters internal bonds in the cortex and can damage the cuticle, so the hair can’t hold moisture or withstand combing like healthy hair. Extreme shininess can come from a surface coating or conditioning product rather than true damage; hair growing faster is not a consequence of processing, and color fading immediately relates more to pigment stability and porosity than to the structural damage seen with overprocessing.