Cosmetology State Board Exam Practice Test Questions & Answers

Frequent shampooing with highly alkaline shampoo can cause the hair to become dry. Alkaline shampoos have a high pH level, which can strip the hair of its natural oils and moisture. This can lead to dryness, brittleness, and breakage of the hair strands. It is important to use a shampoo that is pH balanced and suitable for your hair type to maintain its health and moisture.

A scalp steamer uses warm mist to open the hair cuticles, allowing for better absorption of conditioning treatments or hair color. This process also increases blood circulation in the scalp, which promotes healthier hair growth and enhances the effectiveness of hair treatments.

Foot files are used to exfoliate and smooth the skin on the feet, removing dry, rough patches and calluses. This helps improve the skin's texture and prevents discomfort caused by hardened skin.

Eyelash extensions involve attaching individual synthetic or natural lash fibers to the natural eyelashes using a semi-permanent adhesive. This enhances the length, volume, and appearance of the lashes.

A conditioning treatment is advisable to give if you want to add strength and body to damaged hair. Conditioning treatments are designed to nourish and moisturize the hair, providing it with the necessary nutrients to repair and strengthen the damaged strands. These treatments can help restore the hair's natural moisture balance, improve elasticity, and add body and volume to the hair. By using a conditioning treatment, you can effectively improve the overall health and appearance of damaged hair.

Oil is suggested for dry cuticles and brittle nails because it helps to moisturize and nourish the cuticles and nails, improving their condition. Oil can penetrate the skin and nails, providing hydration and preventing further dryness and brittleness. Regular use of oil can help to strengthen the nails and promote healthy cuticles.

To protect a sensitive scalp during a relaxer treatment, it is important to apply a protective base. This is because a relaxer treatment involves the use of chemicals that can be harsh on the scalp and cause irritation or burns. Applying a protective base creates a barrier between the scalp and the relaxer, minimizing the risk of damage. It is not necessary to use a mild shampoo or apply a conditioner during the relaxer treatment, as their main purpose is to cleanse and condition the hair, not protect the scalp. Using an astringent on the scalp is also not recommended, as it can further irritate the sensitive skin.

The skin serves many essential functions, including providing a barrier for protection, sensing environmental stimuli, absorbing certain substances (e.g., medications via patches), and excreting small amounts of waste like sweat. Digestion, however, is a function of the digestive system, which breaks down food to extract and absorb nutrients.

Cosmetology encompasses a wide range of beauty treatments, including hair styling and coloring, nail care, and skin care. It is a professional field requiring specialized training and certification.

Facial massage offers benefits such as improved circulation, better absorption of skincare products, and reduced tension, which can temporarily minimize the appearance of wrinkles. However, it does not stimulate hair growth on the face.

Scalp manipulations should not be performed when abrasions are present because the act of manipulating or massaging the scalp can further irritate or worsen the existing abrasions. Abrasions are open wounds on the skin, and any kind of manipulation can introduce bacteria or cause bleeding, leading to infection or further damage. It is important to allow the abrasions to heal before performing any scalp manipulations to ensure the safety and well-being of the individual.

The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft, composed of overlapping scales that protect the inner cortex. It plays a role in shine, moisture retention, and overall hair health, but it does not regulate hair growth. Hair growth is primarily influenced by factors within the hair follicle, such as the dermal papilla and hair matrix.

Hair is primarily composed of keratin. Keratin is a tough, fibrous protein that is responsible for the strength and structure of hair. It forms the outer layer of the hair shaft and provides protection and elasticity. Keratin is also found in other parts of the body, such as the skin and nails. Calcium, cortisone, and magnesium are not the primary components of hair.

Blush brushes are soft, rounded, and fluffy, designed to evenly distribute powder blush across the cheeks. Their shape allows for precise application and blending, ensuring a natural look.

Setting lotions or sprays are styling products designed to provide structure and hold to the hair, ensuring that hairstyles retain their shape for longer. They are often used during blow-drying or after styling to prevent the hair from becoming flat or unmanageable.

Applying an antiseptic to tweezed areas during arching is necessary to avoid infection. When tweezing, the hair follicles are being pulled out, creating tiny open wounds on the skin. These open wounds can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to infections. By applying an antiseptic, it kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria, reducing the risk of infection and promoting proper healing of the skin.

The primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—are the foundational colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. Green, on the other hand, is a secondary color created by blending blue and yellow.

Highlighting shampoos contain mild lightening agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, which gradually lighten the hair with repeated use. These shampoos are ideal for enhancing natural highlights or brightening previously colored hair without making a dramatic change.

A hot oil manicure is a treatment designed to deeply moisturize and nourish both the nails and cuticles. The warm oil softens the cuticles, making them easier to manage, and improves blood circulation to the nail bed, which encourages healthy nail growth. Regular treatments can help reduce brittleness and peeling, resulting in stronger, healthier nails over time.

Before giving a chemical wave, the hair should be analyzed and shampooed. This is important because analyzing the hair helps to determine its condition and the appropriate products and techniques to use during the chemical wave process. Shampooing the hair beforehand removes any dirt, oil, or product buildup, ensuring that the chemicals can penetrate the hair effectively. This step also helps to create a clean and healthy foundation for the chemical wave, resulting in better results and minimizing potential damage to the hair.

Spiral curls are created by wrapping the hair around a perm rod or curling iron in a spiral motion, resulting in a corkscrew-like curl pattern. Barrel curls create volume and wave, pin curls create flat waves, and roller curls create volume and lift.

Toners are liquid skin care products that help to restore the skin's natural pH balance after cleansing. They can also remove any remaining traces of cleanser or makeup and prepare the skin for the application of serums or moisturizers.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and is primarily responsible for producing new skin cells. This layer continuously generates new cells through a process called keratinization. The cells in the epidermis move up to the surface, where they eventually shed off, allowing for the renewal of the skin. The dermis and subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) provide structural support and insulation but do not produce new skin cells.

During the processing time in chemical waving, the hair tends to expand. This is because the chemical solution used in the process breaks down the protein bonds in the hair, allowing it to be reshaped. As the bonds are broken, the hair becomes more flexible and expands, allowing it to take on the desired shape or curl.

Massage involves the systematic manipulation of soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, to promote relaxation, alleviate pain, and improve circulation. Techniques vary from light strokes to deep pressure, depending on the purpose of the massage. Reflexology, aromatherapy, and acupressure are related practices with more specialized approaches.

If a temporary color rinse is applied to normal hair, it will coat the cuticle layer. This means that the color rinse will create a layer on the outermost part of the hair shaft, which is the cuticle. This coating will temporarily change the color of the hair without penetrating deeper layers such as the medulla.

Hair porosity refers to the ability of hair to absorb and retain moisture and chemicals. When it comes to a chemical wave solution, the portion of hair with the highest porosity will absorb the solution faster compared to other areas. This is because high porosity hair has a more open cuticle layer, allowing the solution to penetrate more easily. Therefore, the correct answer is where hair porosity is greatest.

Trichology is the branch of science that deals specifically with the hair and scalp. Cosmetology is a broader field encompassing hair, skin, and nails. Dermatology focuses on skin diseases, and esthetics is the study of beauty and skin care.

If the cuticle is slightly raised and accepts color products easily, it indicates that the hair is in a healthy condition. The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft and acts as a protective barrier. When the cuticle is raised, it allows color products to penetrate easily, resulting in better color absorption. This is typically seen in normal hair, which is neither too fine nor too coarse. Resistant hair would have a tightly closed cuticle, making it difficult for color products to penetrate. Fine hair would have a very thin cuticle, while coarse hair would have a thick and rough cuticle.

Nerves and blood vessels are found in the nail bed. The nail bed is the area beneath the nail plate where the nail is attached to the skin. It is rich in blood vessels and nerve endings, which provide nourishment and sensation to the nail.

Metal implements should be disinfected with a hospital grade solution because it is specifically designed to kill a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This solution is more effective in eliminating harmful pathogens compared to antibacterial soap or hydrogen peroxide. Boric acid, on the other hand, is not commonly used as a disinfectant for metal implements. Therefore, a hospital grade solution is the most appropriate choice for disinfecting metal implements.

Hydrogen peroxide is the key oxidizing agent used in many hair coloring products. Its primary role is to open the cuticle of the hair so that the dye can penetrate into the cortex. Once inside, hydrogen peroxide helps to initiate the chemical reaction that leads to the development of color molecules, which are then bound within the hair fiber. This action not only allows for permanent color changes but also ensures the longevity of the color in the hair.

Bones are made up of cells, blood vessels, and minerals such as calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. These minerals give bones their strength and hardness. Nerves, on the other hand, are not made up of cells, blood, or these specific minerals. Teeth also contain calcium phosphate, but they do not have blood vessels or cells. Tendons are made up of collagen fibers and do not contain cells, blood, or these minerals. Therefore, bones are the only option that fits all the given components.

Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or grooves in the nail plate that can be caused by injury, illness, or nutritional deficiencies. Hangnails are torn pieces of skin around the nail. Leukonychia refers to white spots on the nails, and onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed.

The peak of a finger wave refers to the highest point or crest in the wave pattern. It is the part where the hair is lifted and shaped upwards, creating a ridge-like formation. The ridge is the correct answer because it accurately describes this characteristic of a finger wave.

Chemical wave solutions are used in hair perming processes to break the disulfide bonds in the hair. These bonds are responsible for the hair's natural shape and structure. By breaking the disulfide bonds, the hair can be reshaped and styled into a new form. Shampooing, winding, and neutralizing solutions do not typically involve the use of chemicals that can break disulfide bonds.

Pre-lightening the hair is usually necessary when using a toner because toners are used to neutralize unwanted tones in the hair, such as brassiness or yellowing. In order for the toner to effectively work and achieve the desired result, the hair needs to be pre-lightened to a certain level. This allows the toner to properly deposit the desired color and counteract any unwanted tones, resulting in a more balanced and natural-looking hair color.

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails that can cause discoloration, thickening, and crumbling of the nails. It is a more serious condition compared to the other options listed. Blue nails can be a sign of poor circulation or a lung disorder, white spots can be caused by trauma or a fungal infection, and onychophagy refers to nail-biting. However, onychomycosis requires medical attention and treatment from a physician.

In a French braid, the strands are crossed over each other, creating a raised braid that lies close to the scalp. Dutch braids (also called "reverse French braids") cross the strands under each other. Fishtail braids involve weaving two strands, and rope braids twist two strands.

Shears should be used to slither a client's hair. Shears are a type of scissors specifically designed for cutting hair. They have two blades with sharp edges that glide against each other to create a clean and precise cut. Slithering is a technique used to create texture and remove bulk from the hair by cutting small sections at different lengths. Razors, clippers, and thinning shears are not suitable for slithering as they have different cutting mechanisms and purposes.

Tinea capitus is a fungal infection that affects the scalp and hair shafts. It can cause hair loss, itching, and inflammation. Since it is contagious, a cosmetologist would not be able to perform a service on a client with tinea capitus to prevent the spread of the infection to other clients. Psoriasis, pityriasis capitus, and hypertrichosis do not pose the same risk of contagion and would not prevent a cosmetologist from performing a service.

Using a conditioner-filler during a chemical relaxer retouch service is necessary because it helps even the porosity of the hair. Porosity refers to the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture, and uneven porosity can lead to uneven results during the relaxer process. The conditioner-filler helps to fill in any gaps or inconsistencies in the hair shaft, ensuring that the relaxer is applied and processed evenly. This helps to achieve a more uniform and consistent result, resulting in smoother and more manageable hair.

Tint removers are specifically designed to remove artificial pigment from the hair. This means that they are effective in removing hair dyes or colorants that have been applied to the hair. These products work by breaking down the artificial color molecules, allowing them to be washed out of the hair. Tint removers are not intended to remove natural pigment, temporary colors, or conditioner build-up.

Epilation refers to hair removal methods that remove the entire hair, including the root, such as waxing, sugaring, threading, and electrolysis. Depilation removes only the hair above the skin's surface, like shaving.

The texture of the hair is determined by its diameter. Hair can have a fine or coarse texture depending on the thickness of its individual strands. Fine hair has a smaller diameter, while coarse hair has a larger diameter. The diameter of the hair affects how it feels and behaves, such as how easily it can be styled or how prone it is to frizz. Porosity, elasticity, and density are other factors that can affect the condition and appearance of the hair, but they do not directly determine its texture.

Lightened hair requires the shortest processing time in chemical waving because it has already undergone a chemical process to lighten the color. The hair cuticles are more porous and receptive to chemical treatments, allowing for faster and more effective processing. Fine, coarse, and resistant hair types may require longer processing times as they are less porous and may require more time for the waving solution to penetrate and reshape the hair structure.

The function of keratin is It forms the foundation of all tough tissue. Keratin is a fibrous protein that is a fundamental component of various protective tissues in the body, including the skin, hair, nails, and the outermost layer of the epidermis. It provides structural strength and rigidity to these tissues, forming the basis for their protective function. While keratin plays a role in protecting the skin, it is not primarily responsible for nourishing connective tissue, providing flexibility to the nails, or protecting the skin from injury. Its primary function is to provide structural integrity to the mentioned tissues.

Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, so it dissociates completely in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-). The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+), so in a basic solution, the concentration of hydroxide ions is high and the concentration of hydrogen ions is low. A pH range of 10.5 to 11.5 indicates a highly alkaline solution, which aligns with sodium hydroxide being a strong base.

Swedish massage is a common type of massage that uses flowing strokes, kneading, and circular movements to promote relaxation and improve circulation. Deep tissue massage focuses on deeper layers of muscle, shiatsu uses pressure points, and sports massage is tailored to athletes' needs.

Photoepilation, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), uses a broad-spectrum light to target melanin in hair follicles. The heat generated by the light damages the follicle, inhibiting future hair growth. While similar to laser hair removal, IPL uses multiple wavelengths of light. Electrolysis, on the other hand, uses electric currents to destroy hair follicles, and waxing simply pulls the hair out by the root.