ME Cosmetology flashcards
ME 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.
- Cuticle layer
- The outermost overlapping scales of a hair strand. Its condition determines porosity and how much product or chemical the cortex will absorb during coloring and texture services.
- Disulfide bond
- A strong chemical bond between keratin fibers in the cortex. Relaxers and perms break it, and neutralizers or fixatives rebuild it to lock in the new shape.
- Porosity test
- Spraying water on a clean strand to judge absorption. Slow beading means low porosity, quick absorption and fast drying mean high porosity, and even absorption is normal.
- Salt bond
- A weak side bond between keratin fibers that water breaks and drying reforms. Wet sets and roller placement rely on it to hold shape until the hair dries.
- Elevation angle
- The angle at which hair is held from the head while cutting. Zero degrees builds weight, 45 degrees stacks volume, 90 degrees layers, and 180 degrees removes the most weight.
- Stationary guide
- A section of hair that is not moved and is used as the reference for all other cuts. It produces a solid, stable shape with predictable weight lines.
- Traveling guide
- A moving reference section that travels with the haircut, following the head form. Each new subsection becomes the guide for the next.
- Cross-checking
- Cutting a completed section at a perpendicular angle to the original cut to confirm balance and symmetry. It is a standard finishing step on every haircut.
- Developer volume
- The strength of hydrogen peroxide used with color. Ten volume lifts one level, 20 lifts two, 30 lifts three, and 40 lifts four but is not applied to the scalp.
- Law of color
- Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue; secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. Complementary pairs neutralize each other, such as blue canceling orange or violet canceling yellow.
- Patch test
- A small application of color or chemical product on skin, usually behind the ear or in the elbow crease, checked 24 to 48 hours later to detect an allergic reaction.
- Relaxer neutralization
- Rinsing and shampooing with a low-pH product after relaxing to stop chemical action, remove residue, and restore the hair and scalp to their normal acid pH.
- Test curl
- A small wrapped section processed before the full perm to determine development time and confirm the hair can safely accept the chemical service.
- Stratum corneum
- The outermost layer of the epidermis, made of flattened dead keratin cells. It limits water loss and controls how much product penetrates the skin.
- Fitzpatrick scale
- A six-level rating of how skin responds to ultraviolet light. It guides sunscreen recommendations, treatment intensity, and risk of hyperpigmentation after exfoliation or waxing.
- BHA exfoliant
- An oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid, usually salicylic acid, that penetrates pores and suits oily and acne-prone skin. It requires sun protection after use.
- Effleurage
- A gliding massage movement applied with light pressure and following lymph flow toward the nodes. It begins and ends most facial massage routines.
- Lunula
- The pale half-moon at the base of the nail plate, which is the visible portion of the matrix where new nail cells are produced and keratinized.
- Onychomycosis
- A fungal infection of the nail plate that causes thickening, discoloration, and separation. It is a contraindication for nail service and requires medical referral.
- Eponychium
- The living skin at the base of the nail plate that forms the cuticle seal. It should be pushed gently and never cut, because cutting invites infection.
- Paronychia
- An inflammation or bacterial infection of the tissue around the nail, marked by redness, swelling, and pus. It is a contraindication; refer the client to a physician.
- Hyponychium
- The skin under the free edge of the nail plate that seals the nail bed. Cleaning under it too aggressively can break the seal and allow infection.
- Masseter muscle
- The muscle that closes the jaw and aids chewing, located at the angle of the jaw. It is a common site for facial massage and for clenching-related tension.
- Trifacial nerve
- Also called the trigeminal nerve, the chief sensory nerve of the face. It carries sensation from the skin of the face and supplies the muscles of chewing.
- Common carotid artery
- A major artery on each side of the neck supplying blood to the head and face. Pressure is never applied there because it can restrict blood flow to the brain.
- Integumentary system
- The body system made of skin, hair, and nails. It protects underlying tissue, regulates temperature, excretes waste, and provides the sense of touch.
- Disinfection
- A process using an EPA-registered hospital-grade product that kills most pathogens on hard, nonporous surfaces and implements, but does not destroy bacterial spores.
- Sterilization
- A process using an autoclave or dry heat that destroys all microbial life, including spores, on implements. It exceeds the routine requirement for standard salon tools.
- Safety Data Sheet
- A document supplied with each chemical product that lists hazards, safe handling, first aid, and storage requirements. It must be available in the workplace.
- Contact time
- The number of minutes an implement must stay fully immersed in disinfectant, as stated on the product label, to achieve the claimed kill level.
- Maine Board of Barbering
- The state board within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation that licenses cosmetologists, barbers, aestheticians, nail technicians, and salons and enforces its rules.
- Scope of practice
- The services a license holder is legally permitted to perform. Working outside that scope, such as diagnosing disease, is a violation of state law.