LA Esthetician study plan
LA Esthetician · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety
Define the chain of infection and list at least three points in a salon service where it can be broken.
Distinguish cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and state which level of decontamination applies to implements that contact intact skin versus broken skin.
Compare the label claims and contact times of one hospital-grade disinfectant and one EPA-registered low-level product, recording the required immersion time for each.
Demonstrate the correct sequence for handwashing and for donning and doffing gloves before a facial.
Your checkpoint
A one-page disinfection protocol card listing the product, dilution, contact time, and disposal method for every reusable implement in a facial station.
Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety & Louisiana Cosmetology Law and Board Rules
Identify the safety hazards (electrical, chemical, ergonomic, fire) most likely in a facial room and write one control for each.
Explain Material Safety Data Sheet access requirements and where the sheet must be kept in the salon.
Locate the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology statutes and rules governing sanitation and summarize the specific requirements for towels, linens, and single-use items.
Differentiate a blood exposure incident from a routine service spill and outline the response steps for each.
Your checkpoint
A 15-question self-quiz on infection control and Louisiana sanitation rules, scored, with every missed item rewritten as a correct statement.
Skin Anatomy, Physiology, and Histology
Label a hand-drawn diagram of the epidermis with all five layers and one function of each.
Trace the path of a keratinocyte from the stratum basale to the stratum corneum and describe what happens at each stage.
Describe the structure and function of the dermis, including collagen, elastin, and the roles of fibroblasts and mast cells.
Explain how the skin performs at least four functions: barrier protection, temperature regulation, sensation, and vitamin D synthesis.
Relate the anatomy of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland to the formation of comedones and acne lesions.
Your checkpoint
A labeled skin cross-section diagram (epidermis layers, dermis, hypodermis, follicle, gland, and vessel) with a one-sentence function written for each structure.
Skin Anatomy, Physiology, and Histology & Skin Analysis and Conditions
Classify skin as dry, oily, combination, or normal using observable indicators, and justify each classification with at least two findings.
Perform a simulated client consultation that records skin type, Fitzpatrick phototype, sensitivities, medications, and contraindications.
Distinguish dehydration from dryness and describe how each presents and how each is addressed in treatment.
Recognize the visible signs of at least five conditions (acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, seborrheic dermatitis, keratosis) and state when to refer rather than treat.
Your checkpoint
Three completed intake and skin-analysis forms for practice clients, each with a skin type, phototype, identified condition, and referral decision.
Skin Analysis and Conditions & Facial Treatments and Client Care
Sequence a basic facial from consultation through cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, massage, mask, and finishing, stating the purpose of each step.
Select massage movements appropriate to the client's skin condition and explain the direction and pressure rationale.
Identify contraindications that require modifying or declining a facial, including active infection, recent cosmetic procedures, and certain medications.
Adapt a treatment plan for two different skin types and explain what you changed and why.
Your checkpoint
A written 60-minute facial protocol with timed steps, product categories, and a modification note for at least two contraindications.
Facial Treatments and Client Care & Hair Removal
Compare soft wax, hard wax, sugaring, and threading on technique, appropriate areas, and skin sensitivity.
List the pre- and post-service instructions that reduce irritation and ingrown hairs after waxing.
Identify the contraindications to waxing, including isotretinoin use, recent exfoliation, and compromised skin, and state the action for each.
Demonstrate the sanitation steps for wax pots, spatulas, and linens between clients.
Your checkpoint
A hair-removal comparison chart covering four methods across technique, areas, contraindications, and aftercare, plus a timed waxing sanitation checklist.
Makeup and Lash/Brow Services & Chemistry, Ingredients, and Product Selection
Match foundation shade and undertone to three different skin tones and explain the reasoning for each choice.
Describe the safe application and removal of strip and individual lashes, including patch-test and adhesive precautions.
Explain pH, acids, and bases, and describe how pH affects the skin barrier and product selection.
Read an ingredient list and identify humectants, emollients, occlusives, surfactants, and preservatives.
Explain why preservatives are required in water-containing products and how contamination occurs.
Your checkpoint
A product-selection sheet for three client profiles, each listing recommended cleanser, treatment, moisturizer, and SPF with an ingredient-based justification.
Louisiana Cosmetology Law and Board Rules & Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety
Summarize Louisiana licensing requirements, renewal cycles, and continuing education obligations for estheticians.
State the scope of practice for a Louisiana esthetician and identify services that require referral or a different license.
Outline Board inspection expectations and the penalties for sanitation violations.
Complete a timed mixed-domain practice exam and categorize every error by domain.
Build a final review list limited to the three domains where practice-exam accuracy was lowest.
Your checkpoint
A scored 100-question mixed practice exam with an error log sorted by domain and a prioritized final-week review list.
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on the self-written infection control and law quiz, and correctly state the contact time and dilution for every disinfectant in your protocol card without notes.
Week 4: Draw and label the skin cross-section from memory with all five epidermal layers and at least six dermal structures, then complete two skin analyses that match an instructor or answer-key classification.
Week 6: Deliver the 60-minute facial protocol and the hair-removal comparison chart from memory outlines, and pass a verbal check on five waxing contraindications and their required actions.
Week 8: Score at least 85% on the 100-question mixed practice exam with no domain below 70%, and have a written review list naming your three weakest domains with specific remediation actions.