NBTE Cosmetology NID cheat sheet

The NBTE National Innovative Diploma (NID) in Cosmetology is a Nigerian technician-level award; assessment blends theory papers with practical workshop tasks and a supervised project.

Core subject clusters: hairdressing and barbering, manicure and pedicure, skin care and facial therapy, make-up artistry, and salon business/entrepreneurship.

Hygiene and infection control is assessed across every practical: tools are disinfected between clients (hospital-grade disinfectant for non-porous implements), single-use items are discarded, and hands are washed before and after service.

Sterilisation vs disinfection: sterilisation destroys all microbial life including bacterial spores (autoclave, dry heat); disinfection reduces pathogens on inanimate surfaces but does not reliably kill spores.

Colour theory underpins make-up and hair work: primary colours cannot be mixed, secondary colours are two primaries mixed (orange, green, violet), and complementary pairs sit opposite on the colour wheel and neutralise each other.

Hair colour formulation: the developer strength governs lift, not the dye alone - 10 vol (3%) deposits or tones, 20 vol (6%) lifts 1–2 levels, 30 vol (9%) lifts 2–3, 40 vol (12%) lifts 3–4; higher volumes increase scalp irritation risk.

Skin analysis precedes any facial: identify skin type (normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive) plus conditions (dehydration, comedones, hyperpigmentation) and contraindications such as active infection, open lesions, or recent chemical peel.

Nail anatomy for safe services: the nail plate is keratinised, the cuticle seals the proximal nail fold, and the hyponychium sits under the free edge; cutting living tissue of the nail fold breaches the barrier and risks infection.

Salon business content: costing a service includes product cost, labour time, overhead allocation and a profit margin; pricing below full cost per service produces a loss even when the appointment book is full.

The NBTE National Innovative Diploma (NID) in Cosmetology is a Nigerian technician-level award; assessment blends theory papers with practical workshop tasks and a supervised project.

Core subject clusters: hairdressing and barbering, manicure and pedicure, skin care and facial therapy, make-up artistry, and salon business/entrepreneurship.

Hygiene and infection control is assessed across every practical: tools are disinfected between clients (hospital-grade disinfectant for non-porous implements), single-use items are discarded, and hands are washed before and after service.

Sterilisation vs disinfection: sterilisation destroys all microbial life including bacterial spores (autoclave, dry heat); disinfection reduces pathogens on inanimate surfaces but does not reliably kill spores.

Colour theory underpins make-up and hair work: primary colours cannot be mixed, secondary colours are two primaries mixed (orange, green, violet), and complementary pairs sit opposite on the colour wheel and neutralise each other.

Hair colour formulation: the developer strength governs lift, not the dye alone - 10 vol (3%) deposits or tones, 20 vol (6%) lifts 1–2 levels, 30 vol (9%) lifts 2–3, 40 vol (12%) lifts 3–4; higher volumes increase scalp irritation risk.

Skin analysis precedes any facial: identify skin type (normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive) plus conditions (dehydration, comedones, hyperpigmentation) and contraindications such as active infection, open lesions, or recent chemical peel.

Nail anatomy for safe services: the nail plate is keratinised, the cuticle seals the proximal nail fold, and the hyponychium sits under the free edge; cutting living tissue of the nail fold breaches the barrier and risks infection.

Salon business content: costing a service includes product cost, labour time, overhead allocation and a profit margin; pricing below full cost per service produces a loss even when the appointment book is full.