Florida Cosmetology cheat sheet

Hair is roughly 90 percent keratin protein; the cortex holds pigment and moisture, the medulla is the soft core of thick hair, and the cuticle is the overlapping outer layer that determines shine and porosity.

The three growth phases: anagen (active growth, years), catagen (transition, weeks), telogen (rest, about three months); shedding around 50 to 100 hairs daily is normal.

Hair texture categories run from fine to coarse; density is the number of hairs per square inch; porosity is the cuticle's ability to absorb moisture, tested by sliding a strand between fingers or floating a strand in water.

The pH scale runs 0 to 14; hair and skin sit near pH 4.5 to 5.5, shampoo is typically 4.5 to 7, and relaxers are strongly alkaline at pH 9 to 14.

Hair relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye) or guanidine hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate (no-lye/thio) to break disulfide bonds; neutralizers rebuild bonds with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide.

Permanent waves reduce disulfide bonds with ammonium thioglycolate at an alkaline pH, reshape on rods, then neutralize; a test curl determines processing time.

Nail structure: plate, bed, matrix (growth site), lunula, eponychium (cuticle), hyponychium, and sidewalls; the matrix determines plate thickness and shape.

Facial services: cleanse, analyze skin type, exfoliate, extract only where state rules permit, massage, and apply mask and moisturizer; identify contraindications such as open lesions or active infection.

Levels of control: sanitation reduces pathogens on surfaces, disinfection kills most pathogens on nonporous implements, and sterilization destroys all microbial life including spores.

An EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with a tuberculocidal claim is the benchmark for implements that contact blood or body fluids; follow label contact time exactly.

Porous items that cannot be disinfected, such as nail files, buffing blocks, and wooden sticks, are single-use and must be discarded after one client.

Implements must be cleaned of debris, rinsed, fully immersed in disinfectant, and dried before storage; disinfectant solutions must be changed per manufacturer instructions.

Hand washing: wet hands, apply soap, scrub at least 20 seconds including between fingers and under nails, rinse, and dry with a clean towel; alcohol sanitizers do not replace washing when hands are soiled.

Blood or body fluid exposure: stop service, put on gloves, clean the area, apply an EPA-registered disinfectant, and dispose of contaminated materials in a sealed bag.

A hospital-grade disinfectant label lists dilution, contact time, shelf life, and efficacy claims; mixing disinfectants or adding water beyond the label weakens them.

Tools that contact skin or nails must be disinfected between clients; electrical tools are wiped with disinfectant on surfaces that do not enter the device.

Florida cosmetology is regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through the Board of Cosmetology; the Board adopts rules and the Department licenses and disciplines.

License types include cosmetologist, facial specialist, nail specialist, full specialist, hair braider, and salon license; each has its own scope and hour requirements.

A cosmetology license requires completion of a Board-approved program (historically 1,200 hours) and passing the written and practical exams; verify current hour requirements with the Board.

Salon licenses are issued to a physical location; a salon must display its license and each practitioner's license, and a salon may not operate without a licensed person on duty.

Continuing education is required for license renewal (historically 16 hours per biennium, including specified HIV/AIDS and sanitation hours); confirm current requirements before renewal.

Grounds for discipline include practicing beyond scope, unsanitary conditions, fraud, and impairment; penalties range from reprimand to fine, suspension, or revocation.

Florida's Good Samaritan and scope rules mean a licensee may perform only services within the licensed scope; medical or invasive procedures are outside cosmetology.

Advertising and price lists must not be misleading, and licensees must provide services in a licensed salon except where the rules permit mobile or home services.

Matter is anything with mass and volume; elements are pure substances, compounds combine elements, and mixtures are physically combined substances such as shampoo.

pH measures hydrogen ion concentration on a logarithmic 0 to 14 scale; each unit is a tenfold change, so pH 3 is ten times more acidic than pH 4.

Acids donate hydrogen ions and bases accept them; alkaline solutions swell the hair cuticle, while acidic solutions tighten and smooth it.

Oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide release oxygen to lighten melanin or develop color; developers are labeled by volume (10, 20, 30, 40) corresponding to peroxide strength.

Ammonia in permanent color opens the cuticle and lifts natural pigment; semipermanent color deposits without lift and fades over several shampoos.

Surfactants in shampoo have a hydrophilic head and lipophilic tail that lift oil and dirt into water for rinsing; conditioners use cationic surfactants to smooth the cuticle.

Suspensions are particles dispersed in a liquid that settle out; emulsions combine oil and water with an emulsifier such as a lotion or cream.

Chemical safety: never mix products unless the label directs it, and never combine bleach with ammonia or acids because toxic gas can form.

Ventilation: local exhaust or adequate general ventilation reduces inhalation of vapors from acrylics, color, and relaxers; keep containers closed when not in use.

Waste segregation: used implements, chemical waste, and single-use items go into closed, labeled containers; blood-contaminated waste is handled as regulated waste per local rules.

Chemical storage requires original labeled containers, a cool dry location away from heat and sunlight, and no food or drink in the service area.

Dispose of chemicals through approved waste channels; pouring solvents, bleach, or color down drains may violate local wastewater rules.

Indoor air quality improves with exhaust fans, opening windows where permitted, and scheduling strong-fume services in well-ventilated areas.

Product labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) list hazards, first aid, and disposal instructions; OSHA requires SDS access for hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Energy and water conservation: turn off unused equipment, fix leaks, and use measured product amounts to reduce waste and runoff.

Cross-contamination control extends to the environment: clean and disinfect work surfaces, chairs, and shampoo bowls between clients.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies where employees have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

An exposure control plan must be written and reviewed annually, describing tasks with exposure risk, protective equipment, and post-exposure procedures.

Personal protective equipment includes gloves, eye protection, and gowns when splashing or spraying is possible; gloves are removed and hands washed after each client.

Hepatitis B vaccination must be offered at no cost within 10 working days of assignment to exposure-prone duties, with documentation of acceptance or declination.

Sharps and contaminated items go in labeled, color-coded, closable containers; never recap or bend needles and never reach into containers.

Post-exposure: wash the area with soap and water, flush mucous membranes, report immediately, and seek medical evaluation; confidentiality of the source is maintained.

Hazard Communication standard requires a written program, labeled containers, and accessible Safety Data Sheets for hazardous products.

OSHA recordkeeping: work-related injuries and illnesses meeting criteria are recorded on the OSHA 300 log; small employers may be partially exempt but must still report severe incidents.

Florida workers' compensation covers medical care and wage replacement for injuries arising out of and in the course of employment; report injuries to the employer promptly.

The employer or insurer directs initial medical care from an authorized provider; the injured worker generally must use the authorized provider for the compensable injury.

Workers' compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against the employer, limiting separate lawsuits for covered workplace injuries.

HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk; it is not spread by hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, or toilet seats.

HIV risk in salons comes from blood contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes; gloves and proper disinfection reduce transmission risk.

Universal precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of known status; confidentiality of a client's health status is required.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can reduce HIV infection risk when started promptly, ideally within hours; the exposed person should seek medical evaluation immediately.

Florida requires HIV/AIDS education as part of cosmetology training and continuing education; the content covers transmission, prevention, and workplace safety.