NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Exam flashcards

Temporary hair extensions that attach to natural hair using small, pressure-sensitive clips, offering immediate length and volume without heat or chemicals.

• Easy for clients to apply and remove at home.
• Require no professional installation.
• Ideal for special occasions or daily temporary changes.

Memory trick: Clip it in, clip it out, no fuss, no doubt!

A shampoo formulated to gently cleanse an oily scalp and hair, reducing excess sebum without excessively drying the hair shaft or ends.

• Targets oily scalps.
• Prevents over-drying of hair ends.
• Maintains the hair's natural moisture balance.
• Suitable for frequent use on oily hair types.

Memory trick: BALANCING shampoo: BALANCES oil, not too much, not too little.

Applying permanent hair color to new growth (regrowth) to match the existing color on the mid-shaft and ends.

• Different application techniques are used based on virgin hair vs. regrowth.
• Porosity and underlying pigment variations require strategic application.
• Goal is seamless, even color from roots to ends, avoiding banding.

Memory trick: Mid-shaft first, then roots, then ends, for color that evenly transcends.

The first layer applied in a gel polish system, designed to create a strong bond between the natural nail and the subsequent gel layers.

• Ensures adhesion and prevents lifting.
• Must be cured under UV/LED light.
• Forms the foundation for a long-lasting gel manicure.

Memory trick: Base coat's role, glue the gel to your soul!

An acid-balanced shampoo used after rinsing a hydroxide relaxer to deactivate any remaining alkaline residue and restore the hair's pH, preventing further processing.

• Applied after rinsing relaxer
• Deactivates alkaline residue
• Restores pH balance
• Prevents further damage

Memory trick: After the rinse, neutralize the 'base' with the 'shampoo'.

The excessive removal of callused skin during a pedicure, leading to exposure of sensitive underlying tissue, causing pain, burning, and potential injury.

• Can cause extreme sensitivity, redness, and burning.
• Increases risk of infection and injury.
• Technicians should remove only enough callus to soften the skin, not eliminate it entirely.

Memory trick: Too much filing, skin starts burning; proceed with caution, lessons learning!

A permanent wave solution with a low pH (4.5-7.0) that requires external heat to process, offering a gentler action suitable for fragile or delicate hair.

• Low pH (4.5-7.0)
• Requires external heat
• Gentle processing action
• Ideal for delicate, fine, and color-treated hair

Memory trick: For 'delicate' hair, 'true acid' is the 'gentle' choice.

Different formulations of waving solutions, categorized by their pH and chemical activators, designed for varying hair types and conditions.

• Alkaline (cold) waves: strong, for resistant hair.
• Acid-balanced waves: gentle, for porous/damaged hair.
• True acid waves: very gentle, slow processing.
• Exothermic waves: self-heating, can be alkaline or acid.

Memory trick: Alkaline for Tough, Acid for Tender.

Techniques and tools used to effectively dry and style thick, coarse hair for a smooth, sleek, and long-lasting finish.

• Requires good tension and heat control.
• Sectioning is crucial for even drying.
• Paddle brushes or large round brushes are effective for smoothing.

Memory trick: Thick hair needs a paddle, to smooth the cuticle's battle.

The process of thoroughly removing surface moisture, oils, and contaminants from the natural nail plate before applying any enhancement product.

• Crucial for product adhesion and preventing lifting.
• Utilizes dehydrators, nail cleansers, or 99% isopropyl alcohol.
• Performed after filing and buffing, before primer/base coat.

Memory trick: Moisture is the foe, dehydrate for the gel to glow!

A pre-service test to determine if hair contains metallic salts, which are incompatible with chemical texture services.

• Performed on a strand of hair placed in a mixture of peroxide and ammonia.
• If metallic salts are present, the hair will lighten rapidly, give off an odor, and/or get hot.
• Presence of metallic salts means chemical texture services should not be performed.

Memory trick: Colored hair and chemical waves, metallic salts mean danger saves.

The highest point of the nail enhancement, strategically placed to provide maximum strength and prevent breakage, typically located in the stress area of the nail.

• Crucial for structural integrity and balance.
• Usually built with the second bead in a three-bead application.
• Must be correctly positioned to prevent lifting and breaking.

Memory trick: Free, Stress, Cuticle: The 3 beads make the nail complete!

A common form of temporary hair loss characterized by diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp due to an increased number of hair follicles entering the telogen (resting) phase prematurely.

• Diffuse, widespread shedding across the scalp.
• Often triggered by stress, illness, medication, or hormonal changes.
• Hair strands themselves are usually healthy, not broken.
• Typically temporary, with hair regrowth expected.

Memory trick: TELO-gen: TELO-tally shedding, but it's temporary.

The step performed after rinsing the waving solution but before applying the neutralizer, crucial for ensuring the neutralizer's effectiveness.

• Removes excess water from the hair.
• Prevents dilution of the neutralizer.
• Ensures proper re-bonding of disulfide bonds.

Memory trick: Rinse, Blot, Neutralize.

A temporary hairstyling technique that uses a blow dryer and a round brush to smooth, straighten, or add volume and curl to hair.

• Tension from the brush helps to stretch and smooth hair.
• Heat from dryer dries and sets the style.
• Effective for creating smooth, sleek looks or bouncy curls.
• Requires sectioning and proper brush technique for best results.

Memory trick: Round Brush Blowout: Round brush tension makes curls say 'NO' to frizz!

The process of canceling out unwanted warm or cool tones in the hair using complementary colors from the color wheel.

• Opposite colors on the color wheel neutralize each other.
• Red is neutralized by green.
• Orange is neutralized by blue.
• Yellow is neutralized by violet.

Memory trick: Opposites Attract to Neutralize the Attack!

A styling technique involving combing small sections of hair from the ends towards the scalp, creating cushion and volume.

• Adds temporary volume and body.
• Used to create a foundation for updos or full styles.
• Should be done gently to avoid damage.

Memory trick: To make hair big, tease it slow, watch the volume grow!

A shampoo specifically formulated with an acidic pH to halt the chemical action of highly alkaline hydroxide relaxers and restore the hair's natural pH balance.

• Used immediately after rinsing hydroxide relaxers.
• Contains a pH balancer (typically acidic).
• Stops the relaxer's processing to prevent over-processing and damage.
• Essential for restoring hair's integrity post-relaxer.

Memory trick: Neutralize the ALKALINE, or the hair will decline!

An oxidizing agent (typically hydrogen peroxide) used in curl reforming and permanent waving services to stop the action of the waving lotion and rebuild the disulfide bonds in the hair.

• Re-hardens the hair into its new shape.
• Essential for the longevity of the curl.
• Applied after thoroughly rinsing the waving lotion.

Memory trick: After the wave, neutralize to save the curl's brave new pave.

A preparatory step for coloring resistant gray hair, involving applying a color formula (often a neutral shade) to open the cuticle and improve dye penetration.

• Used for resistant, non-porous gray hair.
• Helps achieve better coverage and color vibrancy.
• Typically applied for 5-20 minutes before the final color application.

Memory trick: Gray is tough, so soften it rough!

Permanent waves with a low pH (4.5-7.0) that process with heat, ideal for delicate or damaged hair.

• Require external heat (hood dryer) to process.
• Produce soft, natural-looking curls.
• Are gentler on the hair and scalp than alkaline perms.

Memory trick: Acid waves are like gentle streams, for hair that's fragile, fulfilling dreams.

An intensive hair treatment containing high concentrations of hydrolyzed proteins designed to repair, strengthen, and rebuild the internal structure of severely damaged or over-processed hair.

• Penetrates the cortex to strengthen compromised hair.
• Reduces breakage and improves elasticity.
• Often used for chemically damaged (permed, relaxed, colored) hair.
• Should be used sparingly and followed by a moisturizing conditioner.

Memory trick: Protein Reconstructor: PRO-tects and PRO-motes strength!

Slide cutting is a texturizing technique where shears are opened and closed rhythmically while sliding along the hair strand, used to remove bulk and create movement without losing length.

• Creates softness and movement.
• Ideal for fine or medium hair to add volume.
• Reduces bulk in thicker hair.
• Shears are partially opened and closed along the hair.

Memory trick: To add 'V'olume to fine hair, 'S'lide your shears.

The process of selecting and mixing hair color products to effectively cover gray hair, often requiring the addition of a neutral or warm base color.

• Gray hair lacks pigment, making it resistant to color.
• Neutral or warm base colors provide necessary pigment for coverage.
• The percentage of gray hair influences the formulation.

Memory trick: Gray needs a base, to fill that empty space.

Styling tools used to temporarily alter the hair's natural curl pattern to achieve a straight or smooth finish.

• Flat irons use heat and pressure.
• Blow dryers with brushes can also straighten.
• Results are temporary and revert with moisture.

Memory trick: Flat iron makes it Flat.

Steps taken to prepare the client and their hair for a successful and safe hair coloring service.

• Includes safety tests and client protection.
• Ensures organized and even product application.
• Prevents staining and irritation.

Memory trick: Patch, Drape, Barrier, Section, Apply.

The steps involved in preparing and caring for the cuticles during a manicure, typically involving softening, pushing back, and sometimes nipping.

• Performed after nail shaping.
• Requires soaking to soften cuticles.
• Gentle technique is essential to avoid injury.

Memory trick: Shape, Soak, Push, Clean, Buff, Polish!

A test performed during a chemical relaxer service to determine if the hair's disulfide bonds have been sufficiently broken to achieve the desired level of straightness.

• Performed by gently stretching a small section of hair.
• Adequate relaxation shows an S-pattern or straightness.
• Prevents over-processing or under-processing.

Memory trick: Relaxed hair makes an S-curve or just S-traightens.

The process of applying lightener to hair that has not been previously colored or lightened, typically starting away from the scalp to control processing.

• Mid-shaft is applied first, 1/2 to 1 inch from the scalp.
• Scalp area is applied last due to body heat accelerating lift.
• Porous ends are also applied last to prevent over-processing.
• Ensures even and controlled lightening from roots to ends.

Memory trick: MId-shaft FIRST, to avoid a HOT mess and DAMAGED ends.

The degree at which a subsection of hair is held or lifted from the head when cutting, influencing the amount of weight removal and layering.

• 0 degrees: no elevation, blunt cut.
• 45 degrees: medium elevation, graduated cut.
• 90 degrees: high elevation, uniform layers.
• 180 degrees: over-directed, long layers.

Memory trick: Higher the Angle, Higher the Volume.

A condition characterized by brittle nails with lengthwise ridges, often leading to splitting or cracking of the nail plate.

• Symptoms include brittleness, splitting, and longitudinal ridges.
• Can be caused by trauma, genetics, or dehydration.
• Often managed by moisturizing and gentle nail care.

Memory trick: Onycho-wreck-sis: My nails are a wreck, splitting and ridged!

A technique using a blow dryer and brush to smooth and straighten curly or wavy hair by directing heat with the cuticle.

• Requires working in small, manageable sections.
• Airflow should always be directed from root to end.
• Using a concentrator nozzle helps to focus heat and smooth the cuticle.

Memory trick: Small sections, roots to ends, smooth and sleek, the cuticle mends.

A haircutting technique where hair is lifted to 45 degrees from the head, creating a gradual increase in length and a stacked, graduated effect.

• Builds weight and volume
• Creates a stacked effect
• Used for graduated bobs and similar styles

Memory trick: Forty-five degrees will 'stack' it nicely.

Specialized shampoos formulated to control excess oil production on the scalp and cleanse oily hair effectively without over-drying.

• Balancing shampoos target oily scalp and dry ends.
• Clarifying shampoos remove heavy buildup (occasional use).
• Avoid moisturizing shampoos for oily hair.

Memory trick: For oily hair, Balance is Best.

Damage occurring when chemical relaxer is applied to previously relaxed hair, causing severe over-processing, extreme porosity, dryness, and breakage.

• Common cause of severe chemical damage.
• Results in extreme porosity and lack of elasticity.
• Leads to dryness and breakage.

Memory trick: Relaxer damage: Overlap is the culprit, not just rinsing or shampoo.

The first application of a chemical relaxer to hair that has not been previously relaxed.

• Applied to virgin (untreated) hair.
• Starts with the most resistant areas, usually the back and crown.
• Avoids the scalp and previously relaxed hair until later stages to prevent over-processing.

Memory trick: Resistant first, then scalp's last, for a virgin relaxer that's built to last.

A chemical texture service that uses specific chemicals and tools to create lasting curls or waves in the hair.

• Adds body and volume to hair.
• Changes the hair's natural texture.
• Requires chemical solution and rods.

Memory trick: Relaxing Straightens, Perming Curles, Reforming Reshapes.

Developer volume indicates the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and its ability to lift natural hair pigment.

• Higher volume = more lift.
• 10 volume: deposit only/minimal lift.
• 20 volume: standard lift (1-2 levels).
• 30 volume: stronger lift (2-3 levels).

Memory trick: The higher the number, the higher the lift, but also the higher the risk.

The specific order of product application (fabric, resin, activator) used to mend a torn or broken natural nail or enhancement using a fabric wrap system.

• Fabric provides strength and structure.
• Resin acts as the adhesive.
• Activator cures the resin quickly.
• Multiple layers may be needed for durability.

Memory trick: Fabric, Resin, Activate, then Resin again, Buff, and Top for the win!

A shampoo formulated to remove product buildup, oils, and impurities from the hair, often used before chemical services.

• Removes buildup and impurities
• Deep cleansing action
• Prepares hair for chemical services

Memory trick: To 'clear' the way for chemicals, use a 'clarifying' shampoo.

A haircutting technique that involves removing excess bulk from the hair or creating movement and softness by cutting at an angle to the hair strand.

• Used to reduce bulk, add movement, or soften lines.
• Can be performed with shears, thinning shears, or a razor.
• Techniques include point cutting, notching, slithering (effilating), and slicing.
• Ideal for fine hair to create volume or thick hair to reduce density.

Memory trick: Texturizing: Adding TEXTURE to create extra VOLUME.

Conditioners formulated with hydrolyzed proteins to strengthen, rebuild, and improve the elasticity of damaged and brittle hair.

• Penetrate the hair cortex to reinforce internal structure.
• Reduce breakage and improve hair's overall resilience.
• Often used as treatments for chemically treated or heat-damaged hair.

Memory trick: Damaged hair needs protein's embrace, to rebuild strength and find its place.

A test performed during the permanent waving process to determine if the hair has processed sufficiently to achieve the desired curl pattern.

• Involves unwinding a test rod 2-3 turns.
• A strong 'S' shape indicates sufficient processing.
• A weak 'S' shape means more processing is needed.

Memory trick: Weak 'S' means 'Saturate' again, for a curl that's strong, not in vain.

Permanent waves that use ammonium thioglycolate and have a pH between 9.0 and 9.6, ideal for coarse, resistant hair.

• Known as 'cold waves' because they do not require heat.
• Produce strong, firm curls.
• Should not be used on porous or damaged hair.

Memory trick: Alkaline for the strong, acid for the soft, gentle song.

The section of a nail tip that makes contact with the natural nail plate, designed to accommodate different nail shapes and lengths.

• Types include full-well, half-well, and well-less.
• Choosing the correct well ensures proper adhesion and a seamless look.
• Well-less tips are versatile and ideal for flat, broad, or irregular nail plates.

Memory trick: Well-less for flat, half for short, full for the curve, a tip for every sort!

A haircutting technique where all hair strands are cut to the same length, creating a solid, clean, and often heavy perimeter line.

• Also known as one-length cutting
• Creates a solid form or bob
• Results in a clean, sharp perimeter

Memory trick: Blunt cuts are for Bobs, Layers for Lift, Graduated for Gaps, Texturizing for Texture.

Complementary colors are directly opposite each other on the color wheel and are used in hair coloring to neutralize unwanted tones.

• Red neutralizes green.
• Blue neutralizes orange.
• Yellow neutralizes violet.
• Understanding the color wheel is crucial for color correction.

Memory trick: Opposites on the wheel cancel out; think of primary and secondary color pairs.

A severe form of dandruff characterized by greasy or waxy scales that are oily and adhere to the scalp, often accompanied by itching and redness.

• Greasy/waxy scales
• Adhere to scalp
• Often accompanied by itching and redness

Memory trick: Greasy scales mean 'Steatoides' is the one to choose.

A non-oxidative hair color that deposits color pigments onto the hair shaft without lightening the natural hair color or requiring a developer.

• No ammonia, no peroxide (developer).
• Deposits color on the cuticle, does not penetrate cortex.
• Fades gradually with shampooing (typically 4-6 washes).

Memory trick: Semi-permanent means NO lift, NO mixing, just a wash-out coat.

A test to determine the hair's ability to stretch and return to its original length without breaking.

• Indicates the strength of the hair's internal structure.
• Healthy hair stretches about 50% when wet.
• Poor elasticity suggests damage or over-processing.

Memory trick: Stretch and snap, tells the hair's strength cap.

Hair color products that deposit color pigments on the outside of the hair shaft without penetrating the cuticle, providing a non-permanent, wash-out effect.

• Does not alter natural pigment
• Washes out with shampoo
• No developer required
• Ideal for vibrant, fashion colors

Memory trick: For 'temporary' fun, just 'coat' and 'wash' it!

The legal limits and boundaries within which a licensed nail technician can provide services. It generally excludes diagnosing diseases or prescribing treatments.

• Cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions.
• Must refer clients with signs of infection or disease to medical professionals.
• Focus on cosmetic care of healthy nails.

Memory trick: Technicians don't treat, they refer to the doc for a healthy feat.

Colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, used in hair coloring to neutralize unwanted tones.

• Red neutralizes green
• Yellow neutralizes violet
• Blue neutralizes orange

Memory trick: Yellow hair, 'violet' flair!

The critical step of thoroughly rinsing the waving solution from the hair after processing in a curl reforming service, before applying the neutralizer.

• Stops the chemical processing action.
• Removes all traces of waving solution.
• Prepares hair for neutralization.

Memory trick: Wave solution is done, so RINSE IT OFF before neutralizing!

A common contagious fungal infection of the feet, characterized by itching, redness, scaling, and sometimes blisters, often starting between the toes.

• Highly contagious, spread through direct contact or contaminated surfaces.
• Symptoms include itching, burning, peeling, and red skin.
• Requires medical diagnosis and antifungal treatment; technicians must refuse service.

Memory trick: Contagious means NO GO, refer to a doctor, let the infection flow!

A lightweight styling product applied to damp hair, designed to add body, fullness, and lift, especially for fine or limp hair.

• Often contains polymers that swell when heated.
• Applied at the roots and distributed through damp hair.
• Activated by blow-drying to create volume.

Memory trick: For limp hair's big lift, mousse is the gift.

Applying a sheer, translucent color product to neutralize unwanted underlying pigments in pre-lightened hair.

• Often used after lightening to refine the blonde shade.
• Violet toners neutralize yellow tones.
• Blue toners neutralize orange tones.

Memory trick: Pale yellow's foe, a violet glow, neutral blonde's path, you now know.

Colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, which, when mixed in equal proportions, neutralize each other to create a neutral tone.

• Red neutralizes Green.
• Blue neutralizes Orange.
• Yellow neutralizes Violet.

Memory trick: Yellow and Violet: A vibrant dance, if one is gone, the other gets its chance.

Hair lacking sufficient moisture and natural oils, leading to a dull appearance, easy tangling, and increased susceptibility to breakage.

• Lacks moisture and natural oils
• Appears dull and lacks shine
• Prone to tangling and breakage

Memory trick: Dry hair is a thirsty, brittle, dull mess.

A type of nail enhancement applied over the natural nail to add strength and protection, which can be easily removed by soaking in acetone.

• Flexible and durable.
• Minimizes natural nail damage during removal.
• Ideal for weak, thin, or brittle nails.

Memory trick: Weak nails need a gentle hug, Soft Gel's the answer, no tug!