Cheat sheet

Texas Cosmetology Cheat Sheet

Licensing + Regulation

20%of exam

License PathExam RulesScopeRenewalWritten Timing

Infection Control

28%of exam

DisinfectionBlood ExposureSingle UseSalon SetupContraindications

Hair + Scalp Care

40%of exam

Hair AnalysisCuttingColorTextureHair Picker

Nail Care

6%of exam

Nail ToolsFoot SpasEponychiumEnhancements

Skin Care

6%of exam

Skin AnalysisWaxingFacialsExtractionSkin Picker

Quick Facts

Exam
Texas Operator
Provider
PSI
Written
100 scored + 10 pilot
Time
130 min
Pass
70%
Training
1,000 hours
Written eligible
After 900 hours
License
2 years
Written fee
$50

License Order

900 written, 1000 practical, both license

900: written1000: practicalBoth: apply

Safety vs Straight Razor

Safety razor

  • Guarded blade
  • Operator scope
  • Lower cut risk

Straight razor

  • No safety guard
  • Not operator scope
  • Barber service

Guard decides scope

State Path Picker

  1. 900 hoursWritten exam
  2. 1,000 hoursPractical eligibility
  3. Passed practicalTemporary license
  4. Passed bothApply TDLR
  5. Renewing licenseComplete CE
  6. 15+ yearsReduced CE

License Path

TDLR
Licensing authority
PSI
Exam vendor
1,000 hours
Course requirement
900 hours
Written eligibility
Written exam
Theory first
Practical exam
Hands-on second
Application
$50 license fee
Temporary
21-day work permit

Scope Rules

Operator
Broad beauty scope
Safety razor
Allowed shaving
Straight razor
Not operator scope
Eyelashes
Operator allowed
Hair weaving
Operator allowed
Facials
Operator allowed
Nails
Operator allowed
Unlicensed
No paid services

Renewal Rules

CE cycle
Every two years
Standard CE
4 hours
Sanitation CE
1 hour
Trafficking CE
1 hour
Elective CE
2 hours
15+ years
2 hours
Name change
Notify TDLR
Address change
Notify TDLR

Tool Sequence

Clean, rinse, dry, disinfect

Clean: debrisRinse: residueDry: prepareDisinfect: pathogens

Cleaning vs Disinfection

Cleaning

  • Removes debris
  • Comes first
  • Soap/water

Disinfection

  • Kills pathogens
  • After cleaning
  • Label contact time

Debris before disinfectant

Safety Picker

  1. Reusable metalClean + disinfect
  2. Porous bloodDouble-bag discard
  3. Nonporous bloodClean + disinfect
  4. Contagious signRefuse service
  5. Electrical toolWipe disinfect
  6. Product jarClean spatula
  7. Foot basinDrain scrub disinfect
  8. Used towelRemove and launder

Clean + Disinfect

Cleaning
Remove visible debris
Disinfection
Destroy pathogens
Sterilization
Destroy all microbes
Contact time
Follow product label
EPA product
Approved disinfectant
Immersion
Fully cover tools
Fresh mix
Daily or sooner
Clean storage
Dry separate area

Sanitation vs Disinfection

Sanitation

  • Reduces microbes
  • Clean surfaces
  • Routine hygiene

Disinfection

  • Destroys pathogens
  • Reusable tools
  • Label contact time

Reduce vs eliminate

Client Safety

Hand hygiene
Before each service
Contagious signs
Refuse service
Single use
Discard after client
Multi-use
Clean then disinfect
Porous blood
Double-bag discard
Nonporous blood
Clean and disinfect
Neck strip
Barrier under cape
Clean towel
New each client

Porous vs Nonporous

Porous

  • Absorbs fluids
  • Hard to disinfect
  • Discard when contaminated

Nonporous

  • Hard surface
  • Can disinfect
  • Reuse after process

Absorb vs resist

Salon Setup

Wet container
Full tool immersion
Covered trash
Minimum one
Shampoo bowl
Required for chemicals
Workstation
Cleanable surface
Foot log
Retain 60 days
Foot basin
Clean after client
Electrical tools
Wipe disinfect
Wax pot
Never reuse wax

Hair Layers

Cuticle protects; cortex changes; medulla centers

Cuticle: shieldCortex: chemistryMedulla: core

Cuticle vs Cortex

Cuticle

  • Outer layer
  • Protects hair
  • Controls shine

Cortex

  • Middle layer
  • Holds pigment
  • Changes chemically

Shield vs structure

Hair Picker

  1. Need depositLower developer
  2. Need liftLightener
  3. Orange toneBlue base
  4. Yellow toneViolet base
  5. Weak hairStrand test
  6. Low porosityAdjust timing
  7. Relaxer retouchNew growth
  8. Permanent waveNeutralize bonds

Hair Analysis

Cuticle
Outer protection
Cortex
Strength and pigment
Medulla
Inner core
Porosity
Absorption speed
Elasticity
Stretch return
Density
Strands per area
Texture
Strand diameter
Scalp check
Safety screen

Color Neutralizers

Blue orange, violet yellow, green red

Blue: orangeViolet: yellowGreen: red

Temporary vs Permanent

Temporary

  • Coats surface
  • No developer
  • Shampoos out

Permanent

  • Uses developer
  • Changes cortex
  • Lasting result

Coat vs change

Cutting + Styling

Elevation
Controls layering
Guideline
Sets length
Stationary
Builds weight
Traveling
Uniform layers
Blunt cut
Heavy perimeter
Graduation
Stacked weight
Thermal styling
Heat shaping
Braids
Tension control

Patch vs Strand

Patch

  • Skin sensitivity
  • Allergy screen
  • Before chemicals

Strand

  • Hair result
  • Timing preview
  • Damage check

Skin vs hair

Color + Chemistry

pH
Acid/alkaline scale
Level
Lightness depth
Tone
Color warmth
Developer
Activates oxidation
Patch test
Allergy screen
Strand test
Result preview
Temporary color
Coats cuticle
Permanent color
Changes cortex

Texture Services

Disulfide bonds
Texture target
Neutralizer
Reforms bonds
Hydroxide
Permanent relaxer
Thio perm
Waving reducer
Base cream
Scalp protection
Retouch
New growth only
Overlap
Breakage risk
Porosity risk
Processes faster

Nail Tissue

Eponychium alive, cuticle dead

Eponychium: livingCuticle: deadMatrix: growth

Eponychium vs Cuticle

Eponychium

  • Living tissue
  • Protects matrix
  • Do not cut

Cuticle

  • Dead tissue
  • On nail plate
  • May remove gently

Living vs dead

Nail Services

Nail plate
Visible nail body
Matrix
Growth origin
Eponychium
Living seal
Cuticle
Dead tissue
Metal tools
Disinfect each client
Drill bits
Clean then disinfect
Porous files
Discard if unsafe
MMA
Prohibited product

Skin Services

Skin analysis
Service safety screen
Contraindication
Pause service
Facial
Cleanse treat protect
Extraction
Gloves required
Waxing
Discard contacted wax
Tweezers
Disinfect after client
Re-dip
Cross-contamination risk
Lancets
Single use

Common Traps

Disinfecting dirty tools

Clean first Disinfect second

Porous blood reuse

Porous gets discarded Nonporous gets disinfected

Patch equals strand

Patch checks allergy Strand checks result

Temporary equals permanent

Temporary coats hair Permanent changes cortex

Cuticle equals eponychium

Cuticle is dead Eponychium is living

Straight razor allowed

Safety razor allowed Straight razor prohibited

Written means licensed

Pass both exams Then apply TDLR

Last Minute

  1. 1.PSI written: 100 scored
  2. 2.Regulation+infection = 48%
  3. 3.Hair/scalp = 40%
  4. 4.Skin+nails = 12%
  5. 5.Clean before disinfecting
  6. 6.Porous blood gets discarded
  7. 7.Nonporous blood gets disinfected
  8. 8.Contagious signs stop service
  9. 9.Patch = skin sensitivity
  10. 10.Strand = hair result
  11. 11.Cortex handles chemical change
  12. 12.Safety razor, not straight
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