CHSE Odisha Voc. Beauty Therapist cheat sheet

Scope of practice: a beauty therapist performs cosmetic services only; diagnosing skin disease, prescribing drugs, or injecting is outside legal scope and must be referred to a physician.

Informed consent rule: explain the procedure, expected result, risks, and alternatives before service; consent for a minor or a client under guardianship requires the guardian's signature.

Confidentiality: client records, photographs, and health information are disclosed only with written consent or where law requires; sharing images on social media needs a separate signed release.

Conflict of interest: commission-linked product sales must be disclosed; recommending a product the salon owns stock in without disclosure breaches the duty of loyalty.

Record-keeping standard: retain client cards, patch-test results, and consent forms for the period set by the institution or state rule; entries are dated, signed, and factual, never opinion.

Advertising ethics: no claims of permanent cure, no before-after images retouched to exaggerate results, and no use of the title 'doctor' or 'dermatologist'.

Referral duty: suspect melanoma (asymmetric, irregular border, multiple colours, diameter over 6 mm, evolving), fungal infection, or severe acne warrants immediate referral, not treatment.

Professional boundaries: personal relationships, gifts, and bartering with clients are avoided; a therapist may decline any service and must document the reason neutrally.

Sterilisation vs disinfection: sterilisation destroys all microorganisms including spores (autoclave 121°C at 15 psi for 15–20 min); disinfection reduces pathogens on surfaces and tools but not spores.

Hospital-grade disinfectant contact time for implements is typically 10 minutes at the label dilution; tools must be cleaned of debris first because organic matter inactivates the chemical.

Porous items (nail files, buffers, orange sticks, wax spatulas, thread) cannot be disinfected reliably and must be single-use or given to the client.

Hand hygiene: wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after each client, after glove removal, and after contact with blood or body fluids.

Gloves are worn for waxing, extractions, blood exposure, and any broken skin; gloves do not replace handwashing and are changed between clients.

Sharps rule: used blades, lancets, and broken glass go into a puncture-resistant sharps container, never into general waste or a plastic bag.

Electrical safety: unplug appliances by the plug, keep cords away from water and walkways, and never use equipment with frayed cords or a missing earth pin.

Wet-floor and slip control: spill is cleaned immediately, wet-floor signs placed, and floors kept dry around pedicure and shampoo stations.

Epidermis layers from deep to surface: stratum basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum (palms and soles only), corneum; keratinisation takes about 28 days.

Dermis contains collagen (strength), elastin (recoil), and glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid (hydration); it houses hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands, nerves, and blood vessels.

Skin functions: protection, thermoregulation, sensation, excretion, secretion, vitamin D synthesis, and absorption; the barrier sits mainly in the stratum corneum.

Hair structure: medulla (core), cortex (keratin bundles and pigment), cuticle (overlapping scales); the follicle's dermal papilla supplies blood and drives growth.

Hair growth cycle: anagen (growth, 2–6 years), catagen (transition, 2–3 weeks), telogen (rest, about 3 months), then exogen shedding; about 50–100 hairs shed daily is normal.

Nail anatomy: nail plate, nail bed, matrix (growth site), lunula, cuticle and eponychium, hyponychium, and lateral nail folds; the matrix produces the plate.

Fingernails grow about 3 mm per month, toenails about 1 mm; growth slows with age, cold, and poor circulation, and speeds up in summer and pregnancy.

Skin types are classified by sebum and hydration: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive; Fitzpatrick I–VI grades sun response and guides waxing, laser, and peel caution.

Surfactant structure is head (hydrophilic) plus tail (lipophilic); amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants are gentler than harsh anionic types such as lauryl sulfates.

Shampoo pH near 5.5 matches hair and scalp; alkaline products swell the cuticle, acidic rinses close it and add shine.

Conditioners act by cationic attraction to negatively charged hair: they lubricate, reduce static, and smooth the cuticle; they do not repair broken bonds.

Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic) and beta hydroxy acid (salicylic) exfoliate; concentration and pH together determine strength, and sun protection is mandatory after use.

Retinoids increase cell turnover and cause photosensitivity; avoid waxing, strong peels, and abrasive scrubs on retinoid-treated skin for the advised interval.

Patch test before colour or bleach: apply a small amount behind the ear or inner elbow 48 hours earlier; a positive reaction (redness, swelling, itch) contraindicates the service.

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) in oxidative dyes causes the most common allergic reactions; contraindicated with known PPD allergy, and a skin test never guarantees safety.

Thioglycolate is the active in cold wave and depilatory creams; it breaks disulfide bonds and is incompatible with a client who had a thioglycolate perm within the previous weeks.

Treatment sequence: consultation and skin analysis, cleansing, exfoliation, steam or warm compress, extraction, massage, mask, toner, moisturiser, sunscreen.

Steam is held about 8–10 minutes at 30–40 cm from the face; contraindicated in rosacea, asthma, and active infection because heat worsens flushing.

Extraction is limited to open comedones with gentle pressure after softening; pustules, nodules, and inflamed cysts are not extracted.

Massage movements follow the muscle direction and lymph flow, generally upward and outward; avoid over the thyroid, inflamed areas, and recent injectable sites.

Facial massage contraindications include acute eczema, herpes simplex, sunburn, recent chemical peel, and uncontrolled hypertension.

Mask choice: clay absorbs sebum for oily skin, gel cools and hydrates sensitive skin, cream nourishes dry skin; leave-on time is per manufacturer, usually 10–15 minutes.

Sunscreen is the final daytime step: SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum, reapplied every 2–3 hours outdoors; SPF measures UVB protection and PA or the UVAPF rating measures UVA.

Skin analysis uses magnifying lamp, visual inspection, and gentle palpation; it records hydration, oiliness, pore size, lesions, and Fitzpatrick type.

Hair texture is measured by strand diameter (fine, medium, coarse); density is the number of hairs per square centimetre; porosity is the cuticle's ability to absorb moisture.

Porosity test: a strand floated on water sinking quickly suggests high porosity; high porosity takes colour fast and loses moisture fast, so use protein and acidic products.

Shampoo selection follows scalp condition; conditioner follows hair condition; clarifying shampoo is used only to remove buildup and is not for daily use.

Sectioning for a cut: divide into four quadrants through the centre and ear-to-ear; take clean, even partings and cut with the head in the position used for the design line.

Blunt or one-length cut sits on a horizontal line; graduated layers build weight at the perimeter; uniform layers create rounded shape; tension and elevation determine the result.

Cutting angles: 0° elevation gives a solid line, 45° gives graduation, 90° gives uniform layers, and 180° gives long layers.

Blow-dry direction controls the finish: dry root to tip and downward along the cuticle for smoothness; rough-dry to 80–90% before styling to limit heat damage.

Thermal tools: keep irons under about 180–200°C for fine or damaged hair and always use a heat protectant; damaged hair shows split ends and mid-shaft breakage.

Colour wheel: primary yellow, red, blue; secondary orange, green, violet; opposite colours neutralise (blue cancels orange, violet cancels yellow, green cancels red).

Level system runs 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde); tone describes warm, neutral, or cool character at that level.

Hydrogen peroxide strength: 6% (20 vol) lifts about 1–2 levels, 9% (30 vol) about 2–3, 12% (40 vol) about 3–4; higher volume also increases scalp irritation.

Oxidative (permanent) colour lifts and deposits, needs developer, and leaves permanent pigment; semi-permanent deposits only and fades over 6–12 shampoos; temporary coats the cuticle.

Developer plus dye ratio is normally 1:1 for permanent colour and 1:2 for some high-lift blondes; follow the manufacturer's ratio exactly.

Strand test determines development time and result; process from mid-lengths to ends first when re-touching, then apply to the regrowth.

Bleach lifts natural pigment through red, orange, yellow, and pale yellow stages; do not bleach over henna or metallic salts because of unpredictable and damaging reactions.

Colour correction rules: lift no more than 2–3 levels per session, fill before going darker on porous hair, and never mix peroxide with bleach in a sealed container.

Perm chemistry has two steps: reducing agent (ammonium or glyceryl thioglycolate) breaks disulfide bonds; neutraliser (hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate) rebuilds them in the new shape.

Rod size sets curl size: small rod equals tight curl, large rod equals loose wave; winding tension and processing time also affect the result.

Perm contraindications include recent colour or bleach damage, metallic-salt history, scalp abrasions, pregnancy caution, and a positive patch test.

Thioglycolate perm processing is typically 10–20 minutes with checking every 3–5 minutes; over-processing causes frizz and breakage.

Relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye, pH about 13) or guanidine and ammonium thioglycolate (no-lye); they straighten by breaking disulfide bonds and need a neutralising shampoo.

Relaxer rule: base the scalp and protect the hairline, apply to new growth only, never overlap, and do not relax hair previously treated with a thioglycolate perm.

Scalp treatments: medicated shampoo for dandruff (zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide), moisturising for dry scalp; treat only when no broken skin or infection is present.

Scalp massage increases local circulation; contraindicated over inflamed, infected, or recently injured scalp, and never over a suspected fungal patch.

Manicure sequence: sanitise hands, inspect nails, shape with file in one direction, soak, push cuticle gently, trim only loose skin, massage, base coat, colour, top coat.

File grit: 180–240 for natural nails, coarser only for artificial nails; back-and-forth filing on natural nails causes splitting and peeling.

Nail plate is not living tissue, so cutting the cuticle (living eponychium) risks infection; only the non-living cuticle is softened and pushed back.

Pedicure water temperature is about 37–40°C with a single-use liner; contraindicated for diabetics, peripheral vascular disease, and clients with open sores unless cleared by a doctor.

Diabetic foot caution: no cutting, no callus shaving, no metal tools on the skin; use a soft file and refer any wound or discolouration.

Nail art adhesives and gels cause contact allergy (methacrylates); keep products off the skin, cure fully, and use a primer or bonder as directed.

Infection signs to stop service: green-black discolouration (pseudomonas), thickening with crumbly nail (fungal), redness and pus at the fold (paronychia) - refer.

Single-use items in nail services: files, buffers, orange sticks, toe separators, and pedicure liners; metal pushers and nippers are cleaned then disinfected.

Threading uses twisted cotton thread to trap and lift hair; it suits the brow, upper lip, and chin and is safe on most skin types except active acne or eczema.

Wax temperature should be about 40–45°C, tested on the therapist's wrist; hotter wax causes burns and cooler wax fails to grip.

Waxing direction: apply in the direction of hair growth, remove against it while holding skin taut; strip wax uses fabric, hard wax is removed without a strip.

Waxing contraindications: isotretinoin (within 6 months), retinoids, AHA or glycolic peels, recent laser, sunburn, active infection, and diabetes with poor healing.

Do not wax over moles, varicose veins, broken skin, or the areola; eyebrow waxing requires a patch test and careful mapping to avoid over-thinning.

Hair must be about 5–6 mm (roughly 2–3 weeks of growth) for wax to grip; shaving between appointments is discouraged before a wax.

Post-wax care: soothe with a calming lotion, avoid heat, swimming, sun, and perfumed products for 24 hours, and advise exfoliation after 48 hours to prevent ingrowns.

Threading and waxing both need a patch test when the client is new, has sensitive skin, or has a history of reaction; document the result.

Undertone (warm, cool, neutral) determines foundation choice; surface colour (fair, medium, deep) determines shade depth - match at the jawline in daylight.

Colour wheel for correction: green neutralises redness, peach or orange neutralises blue-grey, yellow neutralises purple, lavender brightens sallow skin.

Foundation coverage: sheer, medium, full; formula: water-based for oily skin, oil-based for dry, silicone-based for long wear and photography.

Bridal make-up should be long-wear and photograph-safe: avoid high-SPF foundations that flash back white, set with translucent powder, and use waterproof mascara.

Eye shape correction: hooded lids use matte mid-tone above the crease; close-set eyes place light shade on the inner corner; wide-set eyes place darker shade inward.

Lash and brow rules: brow shape follows the golden ratio (inner edge at the nostril line, arch at the iris line, tail at the outer corner); lash glue must not touch the waterline.

Hygiene in make-up: never double-dip mascara or lip gloss, sharpen pencils between clients, and clean brushes with soap and water weekly, drying flat.

Bridal timeline: trial 4–6 weeks before, skin prep starts 6–8 weeks before, and the wedding-day schedule includes touch-up kit, blotting papers, and a spare lipstick.

Break-even point equals fixed costs divided by (price per service minus variable cost per service); it shows the number of services needed before profit.

Service pricing must cover product cost, therapist time, overhead, and profit margin; a common benchmark is product cost under 10–15% of service price.

Stock control: FIFO (first in, first out) rotation, minimum stock levels, and monthly stock checks; expired colour, wax, and actives are disposed of, not used.

Appointment book rules: buffer time for colour and bridal services, deposit for long bookings, and a written cancellation policy reduces no-shows.

Staff records include qualification certificates, training log, patch-test authorisation, and health declarations; only trained staff perform chemical services.

Client card fields: contact, health history, allergies, patch-test date, products used, formula, timings, and consent signature.

Waste segregation: colour and bleach waste, sharps, general waste, and recyclables are separated; chemicals are never poured down the drain undiluted.

Legal compliance items: trade licence, fire safety equipment, first-aid kit, public liability insurance, and displayed price list.

Consultation sequence: greet, gather personal and health details, identify the client's goal, analyse skin or hair, explain options, confirm consent, then treat.

Open questions ('What would you like to change?') gather more than closed questions ('Do you want a facial?'); summarise back to confirm understanding.

Health screening must ask about pregnancy, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, medication (retinoids, blood thinners, isotretinoin), and previous chemical services.

Contraindication decision rule: any absolute contraindication means no service and a documented referral; a relative one means modify the treatment and record the change.

Business plan essentials: target market, services and pricing, location, equipment cost, break-even forecast, marketing plan, and legal registrations.

Start-up costs include deposit and rent, fit-out, equipment, initial stock, licences, insurance, and 3–6 months of working capital.

Marketing ethics and reach: before-after images need written consent, reviews must be genuine, and discount offers must state conditions clearly.

Client retention metrics: rebooking rate, average ticket value, and visit frequency; tracking them monthly shows whether service quality or pricing needs attention.