LA Cosmetology flashcards
LA Cosmetology · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Sterilization
- A process that destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores, on an object. In salons it is used for items that must be completely free of microorganisms.
- Disinfection
- A process that destroys most pathogenic microorganisms on hard, nonporous surfaces but may not destroy bacterial spores. EPA-registered disinfectants are used at label dilution and contact time.
- Standard precautions
- Treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of a client's known health status. Gloves and hand washing are used for every client.
- SDS
- Safety Data Sheet: a document listing a chemical product's hazards, first aid, and handling instructions. Salons must keep one on file for every chemical product used.
- Cuticle layer
- The outermost layer of the hair, made of overlapping scale-like cells. It protects the cortex and opens when hair is exposed to alkaline products.
- Cortex
- The middle and thickest layer of the hair, containing the pigment melanin and the bulk of the fiber. Chemical services alter the cortex.
- Disulfide bond
- A strong chemical side bond between sulfur atoms in the cortex. It is broken only by relaxers or perms and reforms to set the new shape.
- Porosity
- The ability of hair to absorb and retain moisture, determined by the condition of the cuticle. Low-porosity hair resists moisture; high-porosity hair absorbs and loses it quickly.
- Elevation
- The angle at which hair is held away from the head during cutting. Zero degrees builds weight, 45 degrees graduates, and 90 degrees layers.
- Stationary guide
- The first cut strand that sets the length for all following sections and does not move. It is used for solid and graduated forms.
- Traveling guide
- A guide that moves with each section as the cut progresses. It is used for layered and increased-layered forms where length changes.
- Cross-checking
- Cutting a section in the opposite direction to confirm balance and reveal uneven areas. It verifies that both sides of the haircut match.
- Patch test
- A predisposition test that applies a small amount of color product to the skin 24 to 48 hours before a service to check for allergic reaction.
- Developer volume
- The concentration of hydrogen peroxide that determines lifting strength. Ten volume deposits, 20 lifts 1-2 levels, 30 lifts 2-3, and 40 lifts 3-4.
- Complementary color
- Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. They neutralize unwanted tones, such as blue canceling orange and violet canceling yellow.
- Relaxer retouch
- Application of chemical relaxer only to new growth. Overlapping previously relaxed hair causes breakage and is a common application error.
- Nail matrix
- The area at the base of the nail where new cells are produced. Its visible portion is the lunula, and damage to it affects nail growth.
- Eponychium
- The living tissue at the base of the nail plate, commonly called the cuticle. It seals the nail and must be pushed back, never cut.
- Onychomycosis
- A fungal infection of the nail plate that causes thickening and discoloration. It is contagious, and a cosmetologist must not service the affected nail.
- Paronychia
- Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the nail, often from bacterial infection or irritation. It is a contraindication for nail services until resolved.
- Epidermis
- The outermost, avascular layer of the skin. It provides a protective barrier and is the layer exfoliating products act upon.
- Fitzpatrick scale
- A six-type scale describing sun sensitivity and burning tendency. Type I burns easily and never tans; type VI rarely burns.
- Beta hydroxy acid
- Salicylic acid, which penetrates pores and exfoliates inside them. It is suited to oily and acne-prone skin and is used in facial treatments.
- Contraindication
- A condition that makes a service unsafe to perform, such as open lesions, sunburn, or active infection. The service is postponed or referred to a physician.
- Integumentary system
- The body system made up of skin, hair, nails, and glands. It protects the body, regulates temperature, and senses the environment.
- Mandible
- The lower jawbone and the only movable bone of the facial skeleton. It supports the lower teeth and anchors muscles of chewing.
- Solution
- A uniform mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent, such as salt in water. The particles do not settle and cannot be separated by filtering.
- pH scale
- A 0-14 scale measuring hydrogen ion concentration. Below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is basic; each whole number is a tenfold change.
- LSBC
- The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, the regulatory authority that licenses practitioners and salons and enforces sanitation and practice rules in Louisiana.
- Scope of practice
- The services a licensee is legally permitted to perform under their license type. Practicing outside that scope is a violation.
- License display
- A rule requiring a salon to post its license and the licenses of all practitioners in a visible area. Inspectors check this during board inspections.
- Closed container
- A covered receptacle used to store disinfected implements or hold soiled linens. It keeps clean items free of contamination and contains soiled items.