AK Cosmetology study materials
AK Cosmetology study resources

AK Cosmetology study plan

AK Cosmetology · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Hair Care and Hairdressing & Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety

  • Map the Domain 1 blueprint into a one-page checklist of haircutting, styling, and wet-hair service subtopics

  • Define each sanitation term (cleaning, disinfection, sterilization) in your own words and match it to one tool or surface in a salon

  • Practice labeling the head into sections and subsections on paper until you can do it without a reference

  • Write out the tool list for a basic haircut and state the required sanitation step between clients for each

Your checkpoint

A two-page reference sheet: sanitation vocabulary table plus a labeled head-sectioning diagram

Week 2

Hair Care and Hairdressing & Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders of Hair and Skin

  • Explain the layers of the hair shaft and follicle and connect each layer to a service behavior (e.g., why overlapping color matters)

  • Compare the four basic haircutting elevations and describe the result of each on a drawn figure

  • Identify the phases of hair growth and match each to a practical implication for chemical services

  • Self-quiz on hair growth and structure terms until you score 90% or better

Your checkpoint

A scored 25-question self-quiz on hair structure and growth with corrections written for every missed item

Week 3

Hair Care and Hairdressing & Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety

  • Sequence a full shampoo, condition, and blow-dry service in writing, including client consultation and draping steps

  • List at least ten safety hazards in a salon and write the control for each

  • Demonstrate (or verbally rehearse) proper hand-washing, glove use, and tool disinfection in order

  • Compare the correct disinfectant type and contact time for implements, linens, and work surfaces

Your checkpoint

A written step-by-step service protocol for shampoo and blow-dry that embeds sanitation at every stage

Week 4

Chemical Services (Permanent Waving, Relaxing, Coloring)

  • Diagram the permanent wave process from wrapping to neutralization and label what each chemical step does to the hair

  • Differentiate relaxer types and state the safety check performed before each

  • Explain the color wheel and predict the outcome of at least five color-correction scenarios

  • Identify the signs of a scalp or skin reaction during a chemical service and state the required response

Your checkpoint

A chemical services comparison chart covering waving, relaxing, and coloring with process steps and key safety checks

Week 5

Chemical Services (Permanent Waving, Relaxing, Coloring) & Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety

  • Rehearse the client consultation and patch-test conversation for a first-time color client

  • Write the correct mixing, application, and timing sequence for a single-process color and a virgin relaxer

  • List the required protective equipment and ventilation practices for each chemical service

  • Explain how to handle a chemical spill, burn, or eye exposure, step by step

Your checkpoint

A one-page emergency and safety card for chemical services, written from memory and checked against your notes

Week 6

Nail Care and Services & Skin Care and Esthetics

  • Outline the nail structure and match each part to a service implication (e.g., cuticle care, filing direction)

  • Sequence a basic manicure, pedicure, and artificial-nail service with sanitation between each step

  • Identify common nail and skin disorders and state which require referral rather than service

  • Describe the layers of the skin and the basic facial steps, including product selection by skin type

Your checkpoint

A side-by-side reference for nail and skin services listing structure, steps, and referral conditions

Week 7

Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders of Hair and Skin & Nail Care and Services & Skin Care and Esthetics

  • Build a flashcard set of at least 40 anatomy and disorder terms and drill until recall is 90% or better

  • Match each disorder on your flashcard set to a contraindication or service restriction

  • Practice distinguishing contagious from non-contagious conditions in ten short scenarios

  • Review skin and nail anatomy diagrams until you can redraw the key labels from memory

Your checkpoint

A completed flashcard set with a recorded drill score of 90% or better

Week 8

Alaska Laws, Rules, and Professional Ethics & Sanitation, Disinfection, and Safety & Hair Care and Hairdressing & Chemical Services (Permanent Waving, Relaxing, Coloring)

  • Summarize Alaska licensing, sanitation, and scope-of-practice rules in your own outline

  • Apply the ethics and professional-conduct standards to five short workplace scenarios

  • Complete two timed mixed-domain practice sets and log every missed item by domain

  • Re-drill your weakest domain until the missed-item count drops by at least half

Your checkpoint

A timed 100-question mixed practice exam with a domain-by-domain error log and a written remediation list

Milestones

Week 2: Score 90% or better on the hair structure and growth self-quiz and have a labeled head-sectioning diagram on file

Week 4: Explain the permanent wave, relaxer, and color processes aloud from memory without notes, and pass a 20-question chemical services quiz at 85% or better

Week 6: Complete the nail and skin reference sheet and correctly classify ten disorder scenarios as serviceable or referral

Week 8: Score 80% or better on the timed 100-question mixed practice exam with no single domain below 70%