NC Natural Hair Care flashcards

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

Chain of infection

Six-link model: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host. Breaking any single link stops transmission, which is why disinfection and handwashing are effective.

Disinfection versus sterilization

Disinfection kills most microorganisms on nonporous surfaces but not necessarily spores. Sterilization destroys all microbial life including spores. Routine salon implements require disinfection, not sterilization.

EPA hospital-grade disinfectant

A product registered with the EPA for hospital use, labeled bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal. Salon implements must be immersed for the full contact time stated on the label.

Universal precautions

Treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious regardless of client history. Requires gloves, handwashing, and proper disinfection for any service involving blood or non-intact skin.

Patch test timing

A small amount of oxidative color or relaxer applied to skin 24 to 48 hours before the first full application to detect allergic reaction. A positive result means the service is not performed.

Burn versus allergic reaction

A chemical burn is localized redness, blistering, or weeping at the application site. An allergic reaction is diffuse itching, hives, or swelling. Both require product removal, but only the allergy is immune-mediated.

Porous versus nonporous implements

Porous items such as cotton, wooden sticks, and emery boards absorb liquid and cannot be reliably disinfected, so they are single-use. Nonporous metal and plastic implements are cleaned and disinfected.

Blood spill procedure

Stop the service, don gloves, absorb the spill, clean with soap and water, then disinfect with an EPA-registered bloodborne-pathogen product. Contaminated waste goes into a closed labeled container.

Handwashing standard

Soap and running water for at least 20 seconds before and after each client and after restroom use. Hand sanitizer is not a substitute when hands are visibly soiled.

Wet disinfectant container

A labeled, covered container holding an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant at each station or readily accessible. Solution is changed per manufacturer directions or when visibly soiled.

Implements storage rule

After cleaning and full immersion for the label contact time, implements are stored in a clean covered container. Used implements are never stored loose in a drawer with clean ones.

Linen handling

Towels and linens are laundered after each client. Soiled linens go in a closed receptacle and clean linens in separate closed storage; the two are never stored together.

Double-dipping prohibition

Removing product from a bulk container with a used implement contaminates the supply. Products are dispensed with a clean spatula or into a secondary container and kept covered and labeled.

NC shop inspection

Inspections are conducted by the NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners during business hours without advance notice. Repeated violations can lead to reinspection fees, probation, suspension, or revocation.

Single-use item list

Razor blades, wooden manicure sticks, cotton, neck strips, and emery boards are discarded after one client. Porous items that cannot be disinfected are never reused on another client.

Salon cleaning schedule

Floors, shampoo bowls, chairs, and work surfaces are cleaned and disinfected between clients or as needed. Restrooms and general shop areas follow a posted written cleaning schedule.

Product storage rule

Products are kept covered, labeled, and away from food. Expired or contaminated product is discarded, and bulk containers are never topped off with older product.

Hair porosity

The cuticle's ability to absorb and retain moisture. Low porosity floats in water and resists moisture; high porosity sinks and loses moisture quickly, needing protein and sealants.

Curl pattern typing

Type 1 straight, Type 2 wavy, Type 3 curly, Type 4 coily. Curl pattern guides product selection but does not predict porosity, density, or elasticity, which must be assessed separately.

Co-washing

Cleansing with conditioner only, using gentle surfactants instead of sulfate shampoo. Suitable for dry or curly hair; heavy product buildup still requires periodic clarifying every 2 to 4 weeks.

Moisture-protein balance

Hair that snaps when wet needs protein; hair that feels stiff and straw-like after protein needs moisture. Damaged or chemically treated hair typically alternates treatments every 4 to 6 weeks.

Traction alopecia

Hair loss caused by sustained tension on the hairline from tight braids, twists, or ponytails. Prevention requires loose edges and removing and redoing protective styles every 4 to 8 weeks.

Detangling direction

Work from ends to roots in sections on damp, conditioner-coated hair using fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Never detangle dry, brittle hair starting at the scalp.

Heat styling limit

Use a heat protectant and keep flat irons at or below 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit on natural hair. Never apply heat to wet or damp hair because trapped water boils and damages the shaft.

Relaxer scalp protection

Base the scalp and avoid relaxing irritated, abraded, or recently shampooed scalp. A strand test and a patch test 24 to 48 hours before the first application are required.

Tinea capitis

A contagious fungal infection of the scalp causing scaling and patchy hair loss. It requires medical treatment; a cosmetologist refers the client and does not diagnose or treat the condition.

Natural hair care scope

In NC, limited to arranging, braiding, locking, twisting, weaving, and shampooing natural hair. Chemical services such as relaxers, color, and permanent waves require a cosmetologist license.

NC Board authority

The NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners licenses cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, natural hair care specialists, and shops, and enforces the Cosmetic Art Act under NC General Statutes Chapter 88B.

License display requirement

The individual license is displayed at the work station or shop, and the shop license is posted in the shop. Licenses are renewed annually with the required fee per Board rule.

Licensed shop requirement

Services may be performed only in a licensed shop. Home or mobile services are not permitted unless that location holds a shop license; booth renters still operate under the shop license.

Grounds for discipline

The Board may deny, suspend, or revoke a license for unsanitary practices, practicing outside scope, fraud, or impairment. Actions follow notice and a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act.