Safety and Infection Control
30%of exam
Client Consultation and Hair, Skin, and Nail Analysis
19%of exam
Chemical Texture Services
12%of exam
Haircoloring
10%of exam
Hair Removal
8%of exam
Nail Care
8%of exam
Skin Care
4%of exam
Eyelash and Eyebrow
4%of exam
Haircutting
3%of exam
Hairstyling
2%of exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- Cosmetologist Theory
- Board
- California Barbering and Cosmetology
- Vendor
- PSI Services
- Questions
- 110 (100 scored)
- Time
- 2 hours
- Pass
- Criterion-referenced standard
- Pass rate
- 67% average in 2025
- Fee
- $125 exam plus license
- Training
- 1,000 hours or apprenticeship
- Practical
- Eliminated January 2022
- Blueprint
- Effective April 1, 2026
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese
Decontamination Ladder
Clean, then disinfect, then sterilize
Clean: soap and waterDisinfect: EPA productSterilize: autoclave only
Cleaning vs Disinfection
Cleaning
- Soap and water
- Removes visible debris
- Always the first step
Disinfection
- EPA-registered product
- Destroys pathogens
- Needs a clean tool
Remove debris, then kill
Decontamination Picker
- Non-electrical tool→Clean, then immerse(Liquid disinfectant)
- Shears→Clean, then spray/wipe(Never immerse)
- Clippers or hot tools→Spray or wipe(Electrical)
- Buffer or pumice→Discard after client(Cannot disinfect)
- Reusable electrolysis tool→Autoclave or dry heat(FDA listed)
- Used electrolysis needle→Sharps container(Biohazard waste)
- Foot basin liner→Discard immediately(Never reused)
- Used towel→Closed container(Launder before reuse)
Decontamination Levels
- Cleaning
- Soap, water, debris removal
- Disinfection
- Chemicals destroy pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroys all microbial life
- Required order
- Clean before you disinfect
- Non-electrical tools
- Total immersion, liquid disinfectantImmerse
- Shears
- Spray or wipe only
- Electrical tools
- Spray or wipe disinfect
- Electrolysis tools
- Autoclave or dry heatSterilize
- Dry step
- New clean paper towel
Biggest Three Topics
Safety 30, Consultation 19, Texture 12
Safety and Infection ControlConsultation and AnalysisChemical Texture ServicesTogether 61 percent
Disinfection vs Sterilization
Disinfection
- Liquid immersion
- Salon tools
- Kills most pathogens
Sterilization
- Autoclave or dry heat
- Electrolysis tools
- Kills all microbial life
Salon tools vs needles
Disinfectant Container Rules
- Container label
- Reads 'Disinfectant Solution'
- EPA claims
- Bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidalAll three
- Mixing
- Per manufacturer directions
- Volume
- Enough to immerse tools
- Cover
- Covered at all times
- Change solution
- When cloudy or debris
- Removing tools
- Gloves or tongs required
- Empty bottle
- Manufacturer container stays onsite
Storage and Labeling
- Disinfected tools
- Covered, labeled 'Clean'
- Used tools
- Labeled 'Dirty' or 'Soiled'
- New supplies
- Covered place labeled 'New'
- Pouches, holsters
- No tools carried on uniform
- Used towels
- Closed container until laundered
- Clean towels
- Clean closed cabinet storage
- Laundry heat
- 160F water, 25 minutes
- Hair waste
- Covered waste container
Federal Agencies and Bans
- OSHA
- Workplace safety, hazard communication
- EPA
- Registers salon disinfectants
- FDA
- Regulates cosmetics and devices
- CDC
- Standard precautions guidance
- SDS
- Manufacturer hazard document
- Methyl methacrylate
- Banned from the premises
- Methylene chloride
- Banned from the premises
- FDA-banned cosmetics
- Prohibited on the premises
California Establishment Rules
- Neck strip
- Cape never touches neck
- Headrest
- Clean towel or paper
- Shampoo bowl
- Cleansed after each shampoo
- Treatment table
- Fresh paper, towel, sheet
- Pencil cosmetics
- Sharpen before each use
- Product containers
- Clean, closed, correctly labeled
- Decanting
- Do not contaminate remainder
- Handwashing
- Wash before each client
- In charge
- Licensee, never an apprentice
- Natural hair braiding
- Exempt unless cutting/chemicals
- Threading
- Exempt from license
Disorder vs Disease
Disorder
- Non-infectious change
- Ridges, white spots
- Service may proceed
Disease
- Infection present
- Fungus or paronychia
- Refuse and refer
Work around vs refer
Service or Refer
- Contagious scalp condition→Refuse and refer(No diagnosis)
- Broken or inflamed skin→No service there(Board rule)
- Your hands are broken→Wear gloves(Board rule)
- Client on isotretinoin→No waxing(Fragile skin)
- Diabetes with neuropathy→Physician clearance(Pedicure risk)
- Aniline color requested→Patch test first(24-48 hours)
- Unknown home color→Test for metallic salts(Strand sample)
- Non-contagious dandruff→Proceed with care(Adjust products)
Hair, Skin, Nail Structure
- Cuticle
- Overlapping protective outer layer
- Cortex
- Melanin, strength, disulfide bonds
- Medulla
- Innermost, often absent
- Porosity
- Absorbs moisture and chemicals
- Elasticity
- Stretch and recovery
- Texture
- Diameter of one strand
- Epidermis
- Outer non-living layer
- Dermis
- Living layer below epidermis
- Matrix
- Produces the nail plate
- Lunula
- Visible whitish matrix
- Eponychium
- Living skin sealing plate
- Hyponychium
- Skin under free edge
Patch Test vs Strand Test
Patch test
- Allergy screen
- 24-48 hours ahead
- Behind ear or elbow
Strand test
- Predicts the result
- Checks processing time
- Done at the service
Safety vs result
Refer Out or Proceed
- Pediculosis capitis
- Head lice, refuse serviceRefer
- Tinea capitis
- Scalp ringworm, refuse serviceRefer
- Scabies
- Mite infestation, refuse serviceRefer
- Impetigo
- Bacterial infection, refuse serviceRefer
- Onychomycosis
- Nail fungus, refuse serviceRefer
- Paronychia
- Infected nail fold, referRefer
- Pityriasis
- Dandruff, service may proceedProceed
- Alopecia areata
- Non-contagious, service proceedsProceed
- Trichoptilosis
- Split ends, service proceedsProceed
- Broken skin
- No service on area
- Naming a disease
- Outside cosmetology scope
Tests Before Service
- Predisposition test
- Aniline color allergy screen
- Patch timing
- 24-48 hours before service
- Patch site
- Behind ear or elbow
- Positive reaction
- No color service
- Strand test
- Predicts result and timing
- Elasticity test
- Wet strand stretch recovery
- Metallic salt test
- Peroxide and ammonia sample
- Intake form
- Medications, allergies, prior services
- Consent form
- Written record of risks
Thio vs Hydroxide
Thio
- Ammonium thioglycolate
- Breaks disulfide bonds
- Separate neutralizer
Hydroxide
- Sodium or guanidine
- Forms lanthionine bonds
- Acid-balanced shampoo
Never layer the two
Chemical Service Picker
- Firm curl, resistant hair→Alkaline wave(Thioglycolate)
- Softer curl, fragile hair→True acid wave(Added heat)
- Permanent straightening→Hydroxide relaxer(Lanthionization)
- Hair already hydroxide-relaxed→Never apply thio(Breakage)
- Relaxer retouch→New growth only(No overlap)
- Neutralize yellow tone→Violet-based toner(Complementary)
Texture Service Chemistry
- Bond broken
- Disulfide (cystine) cross-links
- Alkaline wave
- Ammonium thioglycolate, room temperature
- True acid wave
- Glyceryl monothioglycolate, added heat
- Neutralizer
- Oxidizes and rebuilds bonds
- Hydroxide relaxer
- Sodium, potassium, lithium, guanidine
- Lanthionization
- Irreversible single-bond conversion
- Hydroxide stop
- Acid-balanced neutralizing shampoo
- Thio relaxer
- Thioglycolate, separate neutralizer
- Retouch rule
- New growth only
- Overlap
- Causes severe breakage
- Scalp protection
- Apply away from scalp
Neutralizing Pairs
Violet kills yellow, blue kills orange
Violet cancels yellowBlue cancels orangeGreen cancels red
Level vs Tone
Level
- Light or dark
- Numbered scale
- Sets lift needed
Tone
- Warm or cool
- Chooses the base
- Neutralized by opposite
How light vs which shade
Color Theory Fast Facts
- Level
- Lightness or darkness
- Tone
- Warmth or coolness
- Violet cancels
- Yellow
- Blue cancels
- Orange
- Green cancels
- Red
- 10 volume
- About 3% peroxide
- 20 volume
- About 6% peroxide
- 30 volume
- About 9% peroxide
- 40 volume
- About 12% peroxide
- Metallic salts
- React violently with peroxide
- Coal-tar caution
- FDA warning label required
- Toner
- Adjusts tone after lightening
Developer Volumes
10=3, 20=6, 30=9, 40=12 percent
10 volume about 3%20 volume about 6%30 volume about 9%40 volume about 12%
Depilation vs Epilation
Depilation
- Removes at the surface
- Shaving, depilatory cream
- Fast regrowth
Epilation
- Removes from follicle
- Waxing, sugaring, tweezing
- Slower regrowth
Surface vs follicle
Hair Removal Rules
- Depilation
- Removes hair at surface
- Epilation
- Removes hair from follicle
- Soft wax
- Fabric strip removal
- Hard wax
- Removed without a strip
- Sugaring
- Paste epilation method
- Threading
- Twisted thread epilation
- Temperature test
- Test on your wrist
- Application direction
- With the hair growth
- Strip removal
- Against the hair growth
- Double dipping
- Never reuse an applicator
- Isotretinoin skin
- No waxing, refer out
Foot Spa Three Cycles
Each client, each day, each week
Client: clean and disinfectDay: detergent then disinfectWeek: 6-hour soakLog every cycle
Whirlpool vs Pipeless
Whirlpool
- Circulating water system
- Screen removed daily
- Weekly 6-hour soak
Pipeless
- Footplate and impeller
- Parts scrubbed each client
- Weekly 6-hour soak
Pipes vs impeller parts
Foot Spa Cycle
- After each client→Clean, disinfect 10 minutes(Log it)
- End of each day→Detergent, then disinfectant(10 minutes each)
- Once each week→Leave disinfectant 6 hours(Then flush)
- Using disposable liners→Discard, clean basin(Log it)
- Spa out of service→Sign plus log note(Keep sanitary)
Nail Service Safety
- Liquid MMA
- Poisonous, banned on premises
- EMA
- Accepted monomer alternative
- Metal instruments
- Only nail and cuticle work
- Razor-edged callus tool
- Prohibited in California
- Needle-like extractor
- Prohibited in California
- Ventilation
- Source capture at table
- Filing dust
- Particulate mask while filing
- Buffers, pumice
- Discard after one client
- Nail brushes
- Clean, dry, store covered
Foot Spa Disinfection
- After each client
- Drain, scrub, rinse, disinfect
- Contact time
- At least 10 minutes
- End of day
- Detergent, then disinfectant
- Weekly cycle
- Disinfectant sits 6 hours
- Log entries
- Date, time, initials, cycle
- Log access
- Shown to client on request
- Basin liners
- Single use, never reused
- Liner stock
- Five liners per basin
- Out of service
- Sign plus log notation
- Final wipe
- New clean paper towel
Massage Movements
Effleurage, petrissage, tapotement
Effleurage: glidingPetrissage: kneadingTapotement: tapping
Epidermis vs Dermis
Epidermis
- Outer non-living layer
- Exfoliation allowed
- Within licensed scope
Dermis
- Living layer
- Beyond licensed scope
- Breaching is invasive
Scope stops at epidermis
Skin Scope Limits
- Exfoliation limit
- Epidermis only
- Invasive procedure
- Anything beyond the epidermis
- Visible muscle contraction
- Prohibited use of electricity
- Metal needles
- Prohibited except electrolysis
- Physician-only products
- Outside cosmetology scope
- Exfoliation products
- Over-the-counter only
- Effleurage
- Light gliding stroking
- Petrissage
- Kneading that lifts tissue
- Tapotement
- Percussion tapping movement
- Hot towels
- Safe application and removal
Lash and Brow Safety
- Lash adhesive
- Cyanoacrylate, patch test first
- Bonding rule
- Isolated natural lash only
- Adhesive contact
- Keep off lid and eye
- Permanent lash dye
- No approved color additive
- Coal-tar dye label
- Not for lashes or brows
- Tinting
- Follow manufacturer instructions
- Remover
- Keep away from eye
Cutting Tool Safety
- Razor
- Guard plus fresh blade
- Blade disposal
- Puncture-resistant sharps container
- Shears
- Palmed or closed when carried
- Clippers
- Spray or wipe disinfect
- Elevation
- Angle raised from head
- Guideline
- Section that sets length
- Curly hair
- Allow for shrinkage
Thermal Styling Precautions
- Heat test
- Test on damp cloth
- Fine or porous hair
- Lower the temperature
- Scalp shield
- Hard rubber comb barrier
- Blowdrying
- Keep the nozzle moving
- Extensions
- Application, maintenance, removal
- Locking, braiding
- Textured hairstyling procedures
- Hairpieces
- Application, maintenance, removal
Common Traps
Clean vs disinfect
Cleaning removes debris ≠ Disinfection destroys pathogens
Immerse vs wipe
Non-electrical tools immerse ≠ Shears and clippers wipe
Disorder vs disease
Disorder allows service ≠ Disease requires referral
Depilation vs epilation
Depilatory removes surface hair ≠ Waxing removes the root
Thio vs hydroxide
Thio bonds can reform ≠ Hydroxide change is permanent
Level vs volume
Level describes hair darkness ≠ Volume describes peroxide strength
Scope vs medicine
Cosmetologists recommend referral ≠ Only physicians diagnose
Practical vs theory
Practical ended in 2022 ≠ Written theory exam only
Scoring standard
Criterion-referenced pass standard ≠ 2026 outline omits percentage
Last Minute
- 1.Safety and Infection Control = 30%
- 2.Consultation and Analysis = 19%
- 3.Chemical Texture 12%; Haircoloring 10%
- 4.110 questions; 100 are scored
- 5.Two hours; no practical exam
- 6.Clean first, then disinfect
- 7.Shears: wipe, never immerse
- 8.Foot spa disinfectant: 10 minutes
- 9.Weekly foot spa soak: 6 hours
- 10.Patch test 24-48 hours ahead
- 11.Violet cancels yellow; blue cancels orange
- 12.Never relax over relaxed hair
- 13.Exfoliate the epidermis only
- 14.No methyl methacrylate on premises
- 15.1,000 school hours or 3,200 apprentice
- 16.$125 exam and license fee
- 17.Passing standard is criterion-referenced
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