NC Cosmetology key terms

Using an EPA-registered product to destroy most harmful microorganisms on hard, nonporous surfaces and implements; it does not kill all bacterial spores.

The complete destruction of all microbial life, including spores, usually by high-pressure steam in an autoclave; required for implements that contact broken skin or blood.

A basic cleaning step that removes dirt, debris, and many germs from surfaces and tools with soap, detergent, or a sanitizer, and is the minimum requirement for general housekeeping.

Any bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite that can cause disease in people; pathogens spread through contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated objects and surfaces.

Disease-causing microorganisms carried in blood and other body fluids, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, which are handled with gloves and other standard precautions.

An infection-control practice of treating every client's blood and body fluids as potentially infectious, so barriers such as gloves are used consistently regardless of any known diagnosis.

A device that sterilizes metal implements with high-pressure steam and heat; items must be cleaned first, packaged correctly, and monitored for proper temperature and pressure.

A standardized document, formerly called an MSDS, listing a product's hazards, safe handling, first aid, and disposal; OSHA rules require it to be accessible to employees.

The federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety standards, including Hazard Communication and Bloodborne Pathogens rules that apply to salon employees and employers.

A product made for use on skin to inhibit or kill microorganisms; applied to hands or minor cuts but never used to disinfect implements or surfaces.

A material that does not absorb liquids, such as metal, glass, or hard plastic; only nonporous implements can be reliably cleaned and disinfected between clients.

The ability of hair to absorb and hold water; highly porous hair wets quickly but loses moisture fast, which affects how it responds to color and chemical services.

How far hair stretches and returns to its original length; healthy wet hair stretches about half its length again, while low elasticity signals damage and breakage risk.

The active growth stage of the hair follicle, when cells divide and the hair lengthens; it is the longest phase and lasts several years.

The middle layer of the hair shaft, holding most of the keratin and the melanin pigment; coloring, relaxing, and permanent waving all change the cortex.

A zero-to-fourteen scale measuring acidity and alkalinity, with seven neutral; raising pH swells the hair cuticle and lifts its scales, which is how many chemical services work.

A strong alkaline lye relaxer that straightens hair by breaking disulfide bonds; it needs a protective base and careful timing because scalp irritation and burns are possible.

The reducing agent in permanent waves and some relaxers that breaks disulfide bonds so hair can be reshaped; the bonds must be rebuilt afterward with a neutralizer.

A product applied after a permanent wave or relaxer that rebuilds disulfide bonds in their new shape and restores the hair's pH, commonly a hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate solution.

A small test of a product on skin behind the ear or in the elbow crease, done before hair color or other chemicals to check for an allergic reaction.

A trial curl on a small section of hair before a permanent wave, used to confirm solution strength, rod size, and processing time for that client's hair.

A six-point classification of skin based on how it burns and tans in the sun, used to judge safe treatment settings, especially for light-based and exfoliating services.

A plug of sebum and dead cells in a follicle; open comedones are blackheads and closed comedones are whiteheads, and squeezing them can cause injury or infection.

Removing dead cells from the skin surface mechanically with scrubs or chemically with acids; too much can irritate, redden, or thin the skin.

A condition, medication, or allergy that makes a planned service unsafe; it tells the professional to modify the treatment or refer the client to a physician.

A constant direct current used in facial treatments; one charge pushes water-soluble products into the skin and the other draws impurities out, depending on the electrode used.

Redness of the skin from widened capillaries; it can be a normal flush after massage or a sign of irritation, sunburn, or a reaction that means stopping the service.

The area at the base of the nail where new cells form; injury here can cause ridges, thinning, or permanent distortion of the nail plate.

The visible, hardened keratin covering the nail bed, built from compacted cell layers that protect the fingertip and surrounding tissue.

The pale half-moon at the base of the nail plate, which is the visible part of the matrix; it should be handled gently and not over-pushed during a manicure.

The living skin at the base of the nail that overlaps the matrix and seals the nail pocket; it should never be cut during a manicure.

A contagious fungal infection of the nail causing thickening, discoloration, and crumbling; it requires medical referral, and implements must be disinfected or discarded.

The liquid part of an acrylic nail system that reacts with polymer powder to form a hard sculpted nail; fumes require good ventilation and careful handling.

The services a licensee is legally allowed to perform under state law; working outside it can bring discipline, fines, or loss of the license.

A client's agreement to a service after being told its purpose, risks, and alternatives; it is documented with a signed form or a noted consultation before chemical or skin services.

A process that lets a licensed professional from another state obtain a North Carolina license, usually by verifying the existing license and meeting board requirements instead of retaking the full examination.

A business arrangement where a licensed professional rents a chair and space from a salon owner, often paying a fixed fee, with duties defined by state rules and the rental agreement.

Failure to use the care a reasonable professional would use, resulting in harm to a client, such as a burn from an overheated tool or an untested chemical.

Approved training hours a licensee must complete during each renewal period to keep the license active and stay current on safety and technical skills.