What can be a potential result of using sodium hydroxide improperly in chemical services?

Using sodium hydroxide improperly in chemical services can indeed lead to hair breakage. Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkaline chemical commonly used in relaxers to break down the hair's natural structure, allowing it to be reshaped. However, if applied improperly—such as leaving it on the hair for too long, using an inaccurate concentration, or applying it on hair already compromised by previous chemical treatments—it can cause severe damage to the hair’s protein structure. This damage weakens the hair shaft, making it brittle and more prone to breaking.

While the other options hint at potential issues that can arise from improper chemical services, hair breakage is a direct and severe consequence specifically associated with the misuse of sodium hydroxide. Underprocessing might result from inadequate application or timing, but it typically does not lead to breakage. Excess moisture can create different issues, and color fading may be related to other factors but not directly to the use of sodium hydroxide itself. Thus, improper use of sodium hydroxide primarily disrupts the hair's integrity, leading to breakage.