What does the process of perming primarily do?

The process of perming is designed to enhance the curl or wave in the hair. It involves using chemical solutions and heat to break down the hair's natural structure, allowing it to be reshaped into curls or waves. When the hair is wrapped around perm rods and treated with a perm solution, it undergoes a transformation that creates long-lasting curls or waves, providing volume and texture to the hair. This treatment takes advantage of the hair's ability to hold new shapes due to the alteration of the disulfide bonds within its keratin structure.

Perming does not aim to straighten curly hair, as that would require a different process entirely, such as relaxing or straightening treatments. It also isn’t associated with removing excess oil from the scalp; that is typically addressed through cleansing and conditioning products. Additionally, perming does not involve coloring hair, as its primary focus is on manipulating the hair's texture rather than changing its color. Thus, enhancing curls or waves reflects the fundamental purpose of the perming process accurately.