ND Cosmetology flashcards

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

Cuticle layer

The outermost layer of the hair shaft, made of overlapping transparent scales that protect the cortex and regulate how much moisture and chemicals enter the hair.

Disulfide bond

A strong chemical bond between sulfur atoms in keratin that gives hair its strength and shape; it is broken by relaxers and permanent waves and rebuilt by neutralizers.

Eumelanin

The brown-to-black pigment in hair and skin. Higher eumelanin produces darker hair color, and its ratio with pheomelanin determines natural shade.

Standard precautions

Infection control practice treating all blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious, requiring gloves and handwashing for every client service.

Hospital-grade disinfectant

An EPA-registered product that destroys most pathogenic organisms on nonporous implements after cleaning; it must remain in contact with the item for the label contact time.

Hair porosity

The ability of hair to absorb and retain moisture. Low porosity resists absorption, medium is normal, and high porosity absorbs quickly but loses moisture rapidly.

Elevation in haircutting

The angle at which hair is held away from the head before cutting. Zero degrees creates a blunt line and 90 degrees creates uniform layers.

Blunt cut

A haircut in which hair is cut at zero elevation along the perimeter, creating a solid, heavy weight line with no visible layering.

Cross-checking

Cutting or combing the hair in the opposite direction from the original section to verify that the cut is balanced and symmetrical.

Elasticity

The ability of wet hair to stretch and return to its original length. Normal hair stretches about fifty percent of its length when wet.

Developer volume

The concentration of hydrogen peroxide used in hair color. Ten volume lifts one level, twenty lifts two, thirty lifts three, and forty lifts four.

Law of color

Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue; secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. Opposite colors on the wheel neutralize each other.

Thioglycolate

The reducing agent in most permanent waves that breaks disulfide bonds in the cortex, allowing hair to be reshaped into curls or waves.

Strand test

A preliminary test on a small section of the client's hair to determine processing time, product strength, and expected result before a full chemical service.

Test curl

A check performed during a permanent wave to see whether the desired S-shaped pattern has formed, indicating that the processing time is complete.

Neutralizer

The second step of a permanent wave, usually hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate, which rebuilds disulfide bonds and locks the new shape into place.

Fitzpatrick scale

A six-level classification of skin and its response to ultraviolet light, used to guide sun protection advice and select appropriate facial treatments.

Effleurage

A facial massage movement using light, gliding strokes performed upward and outward to improve circulation and relax the client.

AHA versus BHA

Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid are water-soluble and work on the surface; beta hydroxy acids such as salicylic acid are oil-soluble and penetrate pores.

Contraindication

A condition that makes a service unsafe to perform, such as open lesions, sunburn, or active infection, requiring the service to be postponed or referred.

High-frequency current

A modality used on acne-prone skin and scalp that produces a mild ozone effect; it is contraindicated for clients with pacemakers or metal implants.

Lunula

The whitish half-moon at the base of the nail plate. It is the visible portion of the matrix, where new nail cells are produced.

Eponychium

The living skin at the base of the nail plate, often called the cuticle. It seals the nail matrix from bacteria and should never be cut.

Hyponychium

The skin seal beneath the free edge of the nail plate. It protects the nail bed from infection and should not be scraped or cut.

Nail primer

Methacrylic acid applied to the natural nail before acrylic to improve adhesion. It should not contact the skin because it can irritate.

Monomer and polymer

In acrylic nail systems, the liquid monomer (ethyl methacrylate) is mixed with the powder polymer to form a workable bead that hardens into the nail enhancement.

Pedicure water temperature

Soaking water should not exceed about one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (thirty-eight Celsius), and typical soak time is five to ten minutes.

OSHA

The federal agency enforcing workplace safety, including the Hazard Communication Standard, which requires Safety Data Sheets and employee training on hazardous chemicals.

Safety Data Sheet

A document provided for each hazardous product listing its hazards, safe handling, first aid, and disposal. It must be accessible to all salon employees.

Scope of practice

The range of services a licensed cosmetologist may legally perform, set by state law. Diagnosing or treating disease is outside that scope.

Independent contractor

A worker who controls their own schedule and methods, supplies their own tools, and receives a tax form rather than a paycheck with withholding.

State board of cosmetology

The state agency that licenses cosmetologists, sets sanitation and continuing education requirements, and enforces the cosmetology practice act.