NC Cosmetology flashcards

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

Hospital-grade disinfectant

An EPA-registered product labeled bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal that is used on nonporous implements and surfaces; implements soak for the label's contact time, often ten minutes.

Sterilization versus disinfection

Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including bacterial spores, while disinfection destroys most pathogenic organisms on surfaces but not necessarily spores; cosmetology requires disinfection, not sterilization.

Blood spill procedure

Stop the service, put on gloves, remove visible blood with absorbent material, then disinfect the area with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant; contaminated single-use items go into a closed container.

Porous implements

Items such as nail files, buffers, and wooden sticks cannot be reliably disinfected because they absorb liquids, so they must be discarded after use or given to the client.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OSHA-required document organized in sixteen sections that explains a product's hazards, safe handling, first aid, and storage; it must be accessible to employees who use the chemical.

Double dipping prohibited

Reinserting a used implement or applicator into a product container transfers contaminants; instead remove product with a clean spatula or dispense it onto a disposable surface.

Hand hygiene rule

Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after every client and after restroom or food breaks; hand sanitizer is not a substitute when hands are visibly soiled.

Cortex

Middle layer of the hair shaft that contains melanin and provides strength, elasticity, and most of the hair's weight; chemical services change this layer.

Anagen phase

Active growth stage of the hair cycle, lasting roughly two to six years, during which the majority of scalp hairs are growing.

Developer volume and strength

10 volume equals 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 20 volume 6 percent, 30 volume 9 percent, and 40 volume 12 percent; higher volumes lighten more and damage more.

Patch test timing

A patch test for aniline-derivative hair color is applied 24 to 48 hours before the service to a small area and checked for redness, swelling, or itching before coloring.

Elasticity test

Wet a strand and stretch it; normal hair stretches up to about 50 percent and returns without breaking, while hair that snaps has low elasticity and should not receive chemical services.

Lye versus no-lye relaxer

Sodium hydroxide relaxers are strongly alkaline, with a pH near 13, while guanidine hydroxide no-lye relaxers are less alkaline but still require neutralizing shampoo to restore the hair's pH.

Cuticle layer

Outermost transparent layer of overlapping scales that protects the cortex; alkaline solutions swell and lift it while acidic products smooth it closed.

Acid mantle

Thin film of sebum and sweat on the skin surface with a pH around 4.5 to 5.5 that limits bacterial growth and helps maintain barrier function.

Fitzpatrick scale

Classification of skin types I through VI based on response to ultraviolet exposure; it guides safe treatment planning, especially for waxing, peels, and light-based services.

Waxing direction rule

Wax is applied in the direction of hair growth and removed against it while the skin is held taut; temperature is tested before application to avoid burns.

Effleurage

Light, gliding massage stroke performed with the palms and fingers, used to begin and end a facial and to apply product evenly across the skin.

Extraction contraindications

Do not perform extractions on inflamed, broken, or infected skin, on clients with cold sores, or over moles; the service is limited to visible comedones.

Nail matrix

Actively growing area at the base of the nail where new cells are produced; damage to it causes ridges, thinning, or permanent nail deformity.

Fingernail growth rate

Fingernails grow about one-eighth inch, or roughly three millimeters, per month, and a fingernail is fully replaced in about four to six months.

Paronychia

Bacterial infection of the skin around the nail that appears as redness, swelling, and pus; it is a disease, so the service is refused and the client is referred to a physician.

Pedicure basin cleaning

After each client, drain the basin, clean it with soap and water, and disinfect it with an EPA-registered product for the labeled contact time before refilling.

Onychomycosis

Fungal infection of the nail plate that may cause thickening, discoloration, and separation; manicurists may not treat it and must refer the client to a physician.

Booth rental

Arrangement in which a licensed professional pays a fixed weekly fee for space in a licensed salon, sets personal prices and hours, and is not an employee of the salon.

Retail markup

Retail price equals product cost divided by one minus the desired margin, so a ten-dollar item at a forty percent margin retails for about sixteen dollars and sixty-seven cents.

Service pricing formula

Price equals labor cost plus product cost plus overhead plus profit; calculating cost per service shows whether a menu price actually earns money.

Client record card

Confidential card documenting services, formulas, patch tests, and products used; it supports consistency, helps identify allergic reactions, and must be kept secure.

NC Chapter 88B

North Carolina's cosmetology statute, which creates the Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and authorizes licensing of cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, natural hair care specialists, and shops.

Cosmetologist training hours

North Carolina requires 1,500 hours of approved training for cosmetologist licensure; estheticians complete 600 hours and manicurists complete 300 hours before examination.

Shop license

A salon must hold a current cosmetic art shop license issued by the Board, display it in the shop, and pass sanitation inspections to keep operating legally.

Board inspection authority

Board inspectors may enter and inspect a licensed shop during business hours to check sanitation, licensing, and equipment; violations can lead to fines, suspension, or revocation.