CDACC Hairdressing flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Patch test

A small amount of colour product applied to the inner elbow or behind the ear 48 hours before a first oxidative colour service, to check for an allergic reaction before full application.

Strand test

A test on a small section of the client's own hair using the intended formula and timing, to predict the result and avoid unexpected damage before the full service.

Informed consent

The client's written agreement to a service after being told the products, risks, alternatives, and cost, recorded on the client record card and signed by the client.

Contraindication

A condition or circumstance that makes a service unsafe or inadvisable, such as an open scalp wound, active infection, or a known product allergy, requiring the service to be postponed or referred.

Porosity

The hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture, assessed by feel and float test; high porosity absorbs fast and loses moisture quickly, so gentler formulas and shorter processing times are used.

Elasticity

The hair's ability to stretch and return to its original length, tested on a wet strand; healthy hair stretches about 30% and returns without breaking, while low elasticity signals damage.

Disinfection versus sterilisation

Disinfection kills most pathogens on surfaces and tools, while sterilisation destroys all micro-organisms including spores; sterilisation is required for items that pierce or contact broken skin.

Safety Data Sheet

A document supplied with every chemical product that lists its hazards, first-aid measures, spill handling, storage requirements, and required personal protective equipment, and must be accessible in the salon.

Hierarchy of control

The order of risk control from most to least effective: eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment as the last line of defence.

Break-even point

The number of services a salon must sell to cover all costs, calculated as fixed costs divided by the difference between price per service and variable cost per service.

Average ticket value

Total revenue divided by the number of clients served, used to measure how much each client spends on average and to judge the effect of add-on sales.

Rebooking rate

The percentage of clients who book their next appointment before leaving, a key indicator of client retention and a stable revenue base for the salon.

Unique selling proposition

A clear statement of what the salon offers that nearby competitors do not, such as a specialist service, extended hours, or a particular product range, used in marketing.

Active listening

A communication technique that involves giving full attention, maintaining eye contact, paraphrasing, asking open questions, and not interrupting, to confirm understanding with the client.

Open question

A question beginning with what, how, or why that invites a detailed answer and is used during consultation to gather information about the client's needs and hair history.

Scope of practice

The boundaries of what a hairdresser is trained and permitted to do; medical conditions are not diagnosed or treated in the salon and are referred to a medical professional.

Confidentiality

The professional duty to keep client health information, contact details, and images private, sharing them only with staff who need them and never posting them without written consent.

Underlying pigment

The warmth exposed when hair is lightened, ranging from red at darker levels through orange to pale yellow at the lightest levels, which determines the final colour result.

Developer volume

The strength of hydrogen peroxide used with oxidative colour, where 10 volume deposits only, 20 volume lifts one to two levels, and 30 and 40 volume lift more with higher scalp irritation risk.

Complementary colour

The colour opposite another on the colour wheel, such as violet opposite yellow or blue opposite orange, used to neutralise unwanted tones in the hair.

Semi-permanent colour

A colour that deposits pigment without lifting the natural colour, fades over about six to twelve shampoos, and is applied to shampooed, towel-dried hair.

Toning

The application of a dilute colour after lightening to neutralise unwanted warmth and achieve the target shade, usually on shampooed, towel-dried hair for five to twenty minutes.

Neutraliser

The second step of a perm or relaxer service that rebuilds the disulphide bonds in their new shape; it must be applied thoroughly and left for the full contact time to prevent breakage.

Relaxer retouch

Application of relaxer only to the new growth, about one centimetre from the scalp, avoiding previously relaxed hair to prevent over-processing and breakage.

Traction alopecia

Hair loss caused by prolonged tension on the hairline from tight braids, heavy extensions, or tight hairstyles, prevented by braiding with moderate tension and rotating styles.

Remy hair

Extension hair with the cuticle aligned in one direction, which tangles less and lasts longer than non-Remy hair because the cuticles do not catch against each other.

Knotless braids

A braiding technique in which extension hair is fed in gradually rather than knotted at the root, reducing tension on the scalp and producing a more natural finish.

Cornrows

Flat braids worked close to the scalp along the natural growth pattern, often used as a protective style or as the foundation for a sewn-in weave.

Cutting elevation

The angle at which hair is held away from the head during cutting: zero degrees for a solid form, 45 for graduated, 90 for uniform layer, and 180 for long layer.

Point cutting

A texturising technique in which the scissors are held vertically and cut into the ends of the hair to soften the line and remove bulk without creating a visible step.

Appointment book

The salon's scheduling record, listing each client's name, contact number, service, stylist, start time, and estimated duration, checked before confirming any booking.

Client record card

A confidential record holding the client's contact details, service history, colour formulas, patch test dates, and preferences, updated after every visit and stored securely.