MI Cosmetology study guide
MI Cosmetology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Michigan cosmetology credential is a state license issued through the Michigan Board of Cosmetology, which sits within the Bureau of Professional Licensing at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The Board's authority comes from Article 12 of Public Act 299 of 1980, as amended, and the practice is further shaped by administrative rules referenced on the Board's page. The MI Cosmetology study guide has 6 sections and about 1,940 words.
01Scientific Concepts: Infection Control, Anatomy, Chemistry, and Electricity
Bacteria are grouped by shape - cocci (round), bacilli (rod), spirilla (spiral) - and by whether they cause disease. Spores (tetanus, anthrax) survive ordinary disinfection; only sterilization destroys them.
315 words, about 2 min02Hair Care and Hairdressing: Cutting, Styling, Chemical Services, and Color
The hair has cuticle, cortex, and medulla; the cortex holds melanin and the side bonds. Disulfide bonds are the strongest and are broken by permanent wave solution and thio relaxers, then re-formed in the new shape.
345 words, about 2 min03Skin Care and Esthetics
The epidermis has five layers - stratum corneum, lucidum (palms and soles), granulosum, spinosum, and basale, where new cells form. The dermis holds collagen and elastin; the subcutaneous layer provides fat and insulation.
305 words, about 2 min04Nail Care and Manicuring
The nail plate rests on the nail bed and is produced by the matrix; the lunula is the visible portion of the matrix. The eponychium is the living fold of skin at the base, while the cuticle is the dead tissue clinging to the plate - questions frequently confuse the two.
331 words, about 2 min05Michigan Cosmetology Law, Rules, and Regulations
Cosmetology in Michigan falls under the Public Health Code (Article 15) and the administrative rules of the Michigan Board of Cosmetology, administered by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Know the license categories - cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, electrologist, natural hair culturist, and instructor - and that a license authorizes only the services within its scope.
327 words, about 2 min06Salon Business, Ethics, and Professional Practices
Sole proprietorship (one owner, personal liability), partnership (shared liability), corporation and LLC (limited liability), and S-corporation status for tax treatment. Compensation models differ sharply: salary (employer withholds taxes and carries insurance), commission (a percentage split, still an employee), and booth rental (self-employed independent contractor who pays rent, files self-employment tax, and carries their own insurance).
317 words, about 2 min