Maharashtra SSC Assistant Beauty Therapist Pre-Voc/NSQF cheat sheet

A salon work area is organised into zones: reception, consultation, treatment, wet work (shampoo/wax), and waste holding; wet and dry zones are never mixed.

Standard salon trolley order from top to bottom: clean tools, single-use items, product bottles, soiled-item bin; clean and soiled items never share a shelf.

A treatment couch is set at a height where the therapist's elbows stay near 90 degrees; this reduces lower-back and shoulder strain during facials and waxing.

Client record card minimum fields: name, contact, date, skin/hair type, products used, patch-test result, allergies, consent signature.

Salon appointment slot for a basic facial is typically 45-60 minutes; threading of both eyebrows about 10-15 minutes; full-leg waxing 30-45 minutes.

Ambient salon temperature is kept comfortable at roughly 22-26 degrees Celsius; ventilation must remove wax and acetone vapour.

A consumable stock check uses the first-expiry-first-out rule: products nearest expiry sit at the front and are issued first.

Professional ethics baseline: confidentiality of client records, no treatment beyond trained competence, and honest disclosure of product cost and expected result.

Sterilisation destroys all micro-organisms including spores; disinfection destroys most pathogens but not necessarily spores; sanitising lowers counts to a safe public-health level.

Metal implements are sterilised by autoclave at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15-20 minutes; chemical disinfectant soak is used for heat-sensitive items.

Single-use items that are never reused: wax spatulas, eyebrow thread, cotton pads, nail files for a bleeding cuticle, disposable gloves.

Hand hygiene is the first step of every treatment: soap and water wash of at least 20 seconds, or alcohol-based rub of 60-70 percent when hands are not visibly soiled.

Gloves are changed between clients and immediately after contact with blood, and hands are washed after glove removal.

A patch test for wax or tint is applied 24-48 hours before the first treatment and the result is recorded on the client card.

Contraindications to waxing and facials include active infection, open wounds, recent isotretinoin use, uncontrolled diabetes, and known allergy to the product.

A salon spill of wax is cooled and lifted with a scraper, then the residue removed with oil, never with water alone.

Consultation order: greet, confirm identity, ask the reason for visit, take history, analyse, explain options and cost, obtain consent, then treat.

Open questions begin with what, how, when, which; closed questions confirm facts such as 'Is the area sore today?'.

A consultation records allergies, medication, pregnancy, recent cosmetic procedures, and previous reactions to products or wax.

Informed consent states the benefit, the risk, the alternative, and the cost, and is signed before the first treatment.

A client refusing a patch test is declined the wax or tint service and the refusal is noted on the record card.

Contraindication screening questions are asked in the same order every time so that no item is skipped under time pressure.

The therapist repeats the client's stated goal back in one sentence and gets confirmation before starting; this prevents service mismatch.

Records are retained as per salon policy and are never discussed with third parties without written client consent.

Skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive; combination skin is oily in the T-zone and normal or dry on the cheeks.

Skin conditions are not skin types: dehydration, acne, pigmentation, rosacea, and ageing are conditions seen on any type.

The T-zone covers forehead, nose, and chin; the U-zone covers cheeks and jawline.

A skin analysis is done on clean skin under good light; magnification and a skin scanner assist but do not replace visual and tactile assessment.

Hair types by curl pattern range from type 1 straight to type 4 coily; porosity describes how readily hair absorbs and holds moisture.

A porosity float test places a clean shed hair in water; hair that sinks quickly is high porosity, floating hair is low porosity.

Scalp conditions to note before shampooing: dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis plaques, lice, ringworm, and open sores; the last four are referred, not treated.

Hair density is the number of strands per square centimetre; texture is the diameter of a single strand, described as fine, medium, or coarse.

Basic facial sequence: consultation and skin analysis, cleansing, exfoliation, steam, extraction if needed, massage, mask, tone, moisturise, protect with sunscreen.

Cleansing removes sebum, sweat, dirt, and make-up; a double cleanse uses an oil-based cleanser first and a water-based cleanser second.

Toner restores the skin's slightly acidic pH after cleansing and removes last traces of cleanser; it is not a substitute for cleansing.

Moisturiser reduces transepidermal water loss by forming a lipid barrier; humectants draw water in, emollients soften, occlusives seal.

Steam is held 30-45 cm from the face for about 5-10 minutes; it softens comedones and increases circulation but is avoided in rosacea and asthma.

Extraction is done only on visible comedones after steam, using finger-wrapped tissue or a comedone extractor; inflamed pustules are not squeezed.

A facial mask is left on for the time stated by the manufacturer, usually 10-20 minutes, and removed before it dries and cracks on dry skin.

Sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is the final step of a daytime facial; it is reapplied every 2-3 hours in daylight exposure.

Threading uses a twisted cotton thread that traps hair and pulls it out from the follicle; the thread is held in a loop and twisted in the centre.

Threading is suited to eyebrows, upper lip, chin, and forehead; it is precise but avoided on broken or infected skin.

Waxing removes hair by the root and gives 3-6 weeks of smoothness; shaving cuts at the surface and regrows within 1-3 days.

Hot wax is applied thickly and removed without a strip; strip wax is applied thinly and removed with a fabric or paper strip.

Wax is applied in the direction of hair growth and removed against the direction of hair growth, holding the skin taut.

The upper lip and bikini area are waxed with hot wax because the skin is thin and sensitive; the legs and arms usually use strip wax.

Post-wax care: no hot bath, sauna, sunbathing, or perfumed product for 24 hours; soothe with a cooling gel and advise loose clothing.

Hair should be at least 0.5 cm long, roughly 2-3 weeks of growth, for wax to grip it effectively.

Manicure sequence: sanitise hands, remove old polish, shape with a file, soak, push back cuticles, trim hangnails, massage, buff, polish.

Nails are filed in one direction from corner to centre; a back-and-forth sawing motion causes splitting and peeling.

The cuticle is pushed back, not cut, in a standard manicure; only loose hangnails are trimmed with a cuticle nipper.

Nail plate anatomy: the matrix produces the nail, the lunula is the visible white half-moon, the cuticle seals the nail base, the hyponychium seals under the free edge.

A pedicure soak uses warm water with a foot soak for 5-10 minutes; the water is changed and the basin disinfected between clients.

Nail signs to refer to a doctor: dark streak under the nail, sudden thickening, separation from the nail bed, and pain with pus.

A base coat protects the nail and improves polish adhesion; a top coat seals colour and adds gloss; each coat dries before the next.

Diabetic clients need extra care in pedicure: no cutting of corns or calluses, no metal scraping, and water temperature checked to avoid burns.

Shampooing wets the hair, applies shampoo to the scalp, massages with fingertips, rinses fully, then repeats only if the hair is very oily.

Shampoo is applied mainly to the scalp, not the ends; conditioner is applied to mid-lengths and ends, avoiding the scalp.

Conditioner is left on for 1-3 minutes for a surface conditioner and 10-20 minutes for a deep treatment.

Water temperature for shampooing is warm, roughly 37-40 degrees Celsius; a final cool rinse closes the cuticle and adds shine.

Blow-dry holds the nozzle 15-20 cm from the hair and moves continuously; the hair is about 80 percent dry before styling begins.

A round brush adds volume and bend; a paddle brush smooths; a wide-tooth comb detangles wet hair without stretching it.

Heat-styling tools are used below 180 degrees Celsius on fine or damaged hair; a heat-protectant spray is applied first.

Hair is not brushed when soaking wet because the stretched cuticle breaks; excess water is blotted with a towel first.

Make-up order: prep and prime, foundation, concealer, powder, eye make-up, blush, contour, lip colour, setting spray.

Foundation shade is matched to the jawline in natural light; the shade must not be tested on the hand or wrist.

Concealer is applied after foundation and set with powder; a green corrector neutralises redness and a peach corrector neutralises blue-dark circles.

Mehendi paste is made from ground henna leaves with lemon juice and water; it is left on the skin for 2-6 hours to develop colour.

Natural henna stains orange-brown to deep maroon; black henna containing paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is a known cause of severe allergic reaction and is not used.

Mehendi is applied to clean, dry skin free of oil and lotion; the paste is kept moist with lemon-sugar solution and not washed off early.

A patch test for mehendi is done on the inner elbow 24-48 hours before application.

Brushes are cleaned after every client; eyeliner and mascara are applied with disposable wands or a freshly sanitised applicator.

Non-porous, autoclavable tools include stainless steel tweezers, scissors, cuticle nippers, and extractors; porous items such as wooden spatulas are single-use.

A comedone extractor, tweezers, and scissors are disinfected after each client and sterilised at the end of the day.

Electrical equipment in a salon includes steamer, magnifying lamp, hot wax heater, blow dryer, and UV nail lamp; each is checked for frayed cords before use.

A hot wax heater is set to the temperature stated by the wax manufacturer, typically 60-70 degrees Celsius, and tested on the therapist's wrist before use.

Brushes are washed with mild soap, reshaped, and dried flat; they are never left standing on the bristles.

Nail files, buffers, and orange sticks are single-use per client or disinfected if reusable; files are replaced when worn smooth.

Product labels are checked for batch number and expiry; expired product is discarded and the disposal is recorded.

Wax pots are cleaned of residue only when cool and unplugged, never with water while hot.

First aid for a wax burn: cool the area under running water for 10-20 minutes, do not apply ice directly, cover with a sterile non-stick dressing.

First aid for a cut: apply pressure with a sterile gauze, raise the area, and once bleeding stops clean with an antiseptic and cover.

An allergic reaction with swelling of lips or difficulty breathing is an emergency: stop treatment, call emergency services, and keep the client seated upright.

Fainting during a treatment: stop, lay the client flat with legs raised, loosen clothing, ensure fresh air, and monitor breathing.

Waste categories: general waste, sharps (blades, needles) in a puncture-proof yellow container, and blood-stained items in a labelled clinical bag.

Cotton, wax strips, and used gloves are bagged and sealed; they are never left open in the treatment area.

A salon first-aid box holds sterile gauze, adhesive plasters, antiseptic solution, disposable gloves, and a burn gel, and is checked monthly.

Electrical equipment is unplugged by the plug, not the cord; water and electrical appliances are kept apart at all times.

Communication split in a service interaction: about 70 percent listening and observing, 30 percent speaking.

The greeting includes eye contact, a smile, the client's name, and an offer of seating; this sets the tone for the whole service.

Active listening means paraphrasing the client's words back and confirming before acting, not just nodding.

Body language rules: arms uncrossed, shoulders relaxed, and the therapist stands at the client's side rather than leaning over the face.

A complaint is handled with the sequence listen without interrupting, apologise for the experience, act to resolve, and follow up.

Confidentiality means client information, photographs, and treatment records are not shared or posted on social media without written consent.

Professional boundaries: the therapist does not diagnose medical conditions, does not recommend prescription medicine, and refers doubtful cases to a doctor.

Service pricing and product recommendations are stated honestly; the therapist does not push an unnecessary add-on against the client's stated need.