What is the purpose of a strand test in hair coloring?

The purpose of a strand test in hair coloring is to determine how the hair reacts to the color product. This process allows a stylist to evaluate the desired outcome, ensuring that the color achieves the intended result on the client's hair texture and porosity. By performing a strand test, professionals can identify how the hair absorbs the color, how long it will need to process, and whether any unexpected reactions might occur, such as significant changes in tone or strength. This vital step helps in customizing the color application for optimal results, reducing the risk of undesirable outcomes and ensuring client satisfaction.

While assessing the hair's overall health, testing for skin sensitivity, and deciding on tools are important considerations in the overall hair coloring process, they are not the primary focus of a strand test. The strand test specifically targets the interaction between the hair and the color product, making option B the correct choice.