Free TN Cosmetology Exam Flashcards

Cleaning removes soil and must precede disinfection. Disinfection treats inanimate items for the organisms and conditions on the product label; routine disinfection is not sterilization. Validated sterilization destroys viable microorganisms, including bacterial spores. Discard single-use items; disposal itself is not sterilization.

Clean with soap and water, then completely immerse eligible tools in an EPA-registered bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal disinfectant mixed and used according to its directions. Blood/body-fluid contamination requires hospital-grade disinfectant effective against HIV-1 and hepatitis B. Observe the full label contact time and store disinfected implements dry in a disinfected, covered container. Follow equipment-specific instructions; never immerse a powered appliance.

Cocci are spherical, bacilli rod-shaped, and spiral organisms have curved forms; shape alone does not establish whether an organism causes disease or forms spores. Some bacteria form resistant spores. Viruses require host cells to reproduce but can remain infectious on surfaces. Fungi include organisms causing ringworm and nail infections. Use the required disinfectant spectrum and contact time rather than guessing from appearance.

Contaminated hands, tools, surfaces, and shared products can transfer organisms between people. A cut can also create exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Apply infection-control precautions to every client, keep clean and used supplies separate, and never rely on a client looking healthy to establish safety.

The Tennessee Board enforces licensing and sanitary rules; EPA registration and the disinfectant label govern approved disinfectant use; OSHA workplace standards address employee hazards; FDA regulates cosmetics and certain devices. Safety data sheets provide chemical hazards, first aid, handling, and protective measures. A product registration does not authorize a service outside the licence scope.

Stop the service, protect yourself with appropriate gloves, and provide appropriate first aid without contaminating supplies. Segregate contaminated items, discard single-use materials appropriately, and clean and disinfect reusable items and affected surfaces using the required blood-contamination label. Tennessee also requires washing hands with soap and water and using sanitizer or antiseptic after exposure. Seek medical assessment when indicated and follow workplace exposure procedures.

Wash hands before each client as Tennessee requires. Gloves are task-specific barriers and do not replace handwashing; change them when contaminated or moving to a clean task. Dispense creams with a clean spatula and discard or disinfect it after use. Do not contaminate a common product container with a used applicator.

Clean and disinfect foot baths and flush and clean filters and jets according to Rule 0440-02-.13 and manufacturer directions. Use a separate clean towel for each client; never re-dip a used towel for another client. Replace disposable razor blades or heads for every client. Keep disinfected tools in protected dry storage.

Do not diagnose or treat disease. Defer an unsafe service and refer the client for appropriate assessment; Tennessee restricts service for open sores, infectious symptoms, and infestations without physician permission. Isolate damaged electrical equipment, keep electricity away from water, and follow the chemical label/SDS and emergency procedures for spills or exposures.

pH indicates acidity or alkalinity: at approximately 25°C, pH 7 is neutral, lower values acidic, and higher values alkaline. Each pH unit represents a tenfold hydrogen-ion activity difference. pH alone does not establish product strength, compatibility, processing time, or safety on damaged hair; follow the complete product system and hair analysis.

An emulsion disperses one immiscible liquid in another, such as oil in water. An emulsifier helps stabilize it. Surfactants reduce surface or interfacial tension and can support wetting, cleansing, or emulsification. Select a product for its intended skin/service use rather than assuming every emulsion suits every skin type.

Know bony landmarks when sectioning and cutting; the occipital bone is at the back of the skull. Sensory and motor nerves have different functions: the trigeminal nerve supplies much facial sensation, while the facial nerve controls muscles of facial expression. These are study distinctions, not permission to diagnose neurological conditions or use painful pressure.

Hair shaft layers are cuticle, cortex, and a medulla that may be absent. Follicles lie in skin; the dermal papilla supports the growing hair. Skin has an epidermis and dermis, with subcutaneous tissue beneath. The outer stratum corneum consists of nonliving keratinized cells; the entire epidermis is not nonliving.

Hydrogen bonds are weak physical interactions affected by water and heat; salt interactions are sensitive to pH. Disulfide links contribute to the keratin structure and are altered in chemical waving or relaxing. Do not assign each bond category an equal fraction of hair strength or assume temporary styling safely substitutes for chemical processing.

Anagen is active growth, catagen is transition, and telogen is the resting phase. Duration and shedding vary by person and body site. Distinguish ordinary growth-cycle information from sudden or unexplained hair loss, which warrants medical referral rather than a salon diagnosis.

Alopecia means hair loss and has multiple causes; appearance alone does not distinguish all of them. Scaling, inflammation, broken skin, or suspected lice require assessment before service. Defer when unsafe, avoid cross-contamination, and refer for appropriate care; do not label every flaky scalp dandruff or provide medical treatment.

Texture describes individual strand diameter; density describes strands per area. Porosity concerns moisture/product uptake; elasticity concerns stretch and recovery. Combine visual and suitable strand testing with chemical history. Excessive stretch, breakage, or poor recovery can make a chemical service unsuitable; there is no universal safe stretch percentage for every client.

Follow the colour manufacturer’s allergy-alert/patch-test directions and timing before an applicable service; a negative test does not guarantee no reaction. A strand test checks colour response, processing, compatibility, and hair integrity. Neither test substitutes for the other, consultation, or stopping an adverse reaction.

Choose tools, heat, airflow, tension, and products for the hair condition and desired result. Keep hot tools and airflow moving and away from skin; check tool temperature and manufacturer directions. Let the set cool before disturbing it. No single temperature or dryer wattage is safe for every hair type.

Base size and direction, stem mobility, curl diameter, placement, tension, and the chosen pattern affect lift and movement. On-base placement tends to provide more lift than off-base placement under otherwise comparable conditions. Secure without scalp stress and allow the hair to dry and cool before dressing the style.

Assess scalp health, strand strength, existing chemical damage, and acceptable tension or heat. Choose attachment and tools for the system and hair. Pain, traction, or excessive heat are stop-and-adjust signals. Provide the product/system’s maintenance and removal guidance rather than a universal wear interval.

Elevation lifts hair away from its natural fall; lower elevation generally preserves weight and higher elevation creates more layering when the other cutting variables are comparable. Overdirection moves hair away from its natural position to preserve length or shape. State the reference plane and technique rather than treating an angle as a complete haircut formula.

A stationary guide stays in one position and can build increasing length as hair is brought to it. A traveling guide moves through successive sections for a more consistent relationship to the head shape. Check sectioning, distribution, tension, and natural fall; cross-check using an appropriate alternate parting.

Choose a sharp, suitable tool for the desired texture and hair condition. Protect skin, control the cutting direction, maintain tools, and follow the manufacturer’s blade/guard chart. Blade numbers are not a universal length scale. Avoid aggressive texturizing on fragile hair; dry-check curly hair for the actual finished length.

Level describes lightness/darkness; tone describes colour character. Blue counteracts orange, violet counteracts yellow, and green counteracts red in conventional colour theory. Formulate for the actual exposed pigment, target level, hair integrity, and product system; neutralization alone cannot create a lighter level.

Common conventional equivalents are 10 volume≈3%,20 volume≈6%,30 volume≈9%, and 40 volume≈12% hydrogen peroxide. These are concentration labels, not guaranteed lift levels or universal approvals for scalp use. Use only the developer, ratio, strength, and application permitted by the selected colour/lightener system.

Virgin and regrowth services require different placement to account for scalp heat, previous colour, and overlap. Grey coverage depends on resistance, percentage, target, and the manufacturer’s base/formula instructions. Corrective work may require pigment replacement or staged removal. Test first; there is no universal grey percentage recipe.

Lightening oxidizes existing pigment; depositing adds colour. Artificial pigment may require a specific removal plan rather than simply using a lighter tint. Monitor lift and hair integrity, avoid overlapping fragile previously lightened hair, and follow the product’s scalp/heat restrictions. Stop for an adverse reaction or unacceptable damage.

The waving solution reduces disulfide links while the hair is shaped; the specified oxidizing neutralizer helps reform links in the new arrangement. Rod diameter, wrapping, tension, hair condition, processing, rinsing, and neutralizing all affect the result. Follow one compatible system rather than mixing products or assuming an acid wave is safe for damaged hair.

Follow the product’s specified sequence and processing/rinse times. Rinse thoroughly as directed, blot excess moisture without disturbing the wrap, and apply the correct neutralizer according to that system. Check the result and client comfort. A universal five-minute rinse or neutralizer time is not valid for all products.

Hydroxide systems change hair through lanthionization and use their prescribed rinsing and neutralizing-shampoo process. Thio systems reduce disulfide bonds and require the specified oxidizing neutralizer. Their chemistry and neutralization are different; do not interchange products or apply incompatible systems over previously treated hair.

Identify previous hydroxide or thio treatment, bleaching, metallic-salt products, scalp damage, and poor strand strength. Test compatibility and integrity according to the system. Incompatible chemistry or compromised hair can require refusing the service. Never overlap relaxer onto previously relaxed lengths just to improve straightness.

Oily/dry/combination are cosmetic skin-type descriptions; dehydration or sensitivity can coexist with any type. Inflammation, suspicious lesions, infection, and unexplained changes require referral or deferral. Do not diagnose a lesion or claim that a cosmetic facial treats rosacea, severe acne, or skin cancer.

Consult and screen contraindications, assess the skin, then select cleansing, permitted exfoliation, massage, mask, and finishing products appropriate to the client and manufacturer directions. Avoid treatments on compromised skin. In Tennessee, cosmetic skin-removal work is limited to permitted superficial beautification, not invasive removal of living tissue.

Effleurage is gliding, petrissage is kneading, friction is rubbing, tapotement is tapping, and vibration is shaking/trembling. Choose pressure and movement for the service and client. Defer over inflammation, infection, broken skin, or other contraindications; do not apply a universal direction or pressure regardless of anatomy and medical history.

Screen for fragile or broken skin, recent resurfacing, medications such as retinoids, and other product contraindications. Follow the wax system’s temperature, application, and removal directions; do not use a universal waiting interval for every retinoid. Prevent double-dipping and cross-contamination, support the skin, and stop if it lifts or reacts.

Chemical depilatories break down hair near the surface; follow their patch-test, site, timing, and contraindication directions, never using them near eyes unless specifically intended. Makeup is a cosmetic application service: use clean/disposable applicators and dispense products without contaminating containers. Neither process treats underlying skin disease.

The matrix produces the nail plate; the nail bed supports it. The eponychium is living tissue at the proximal fold; the cuticle is nonliving tissue adhering to the plate. The hyponychium is the protective tissue under the free edge. Avoid damaging living tissue, aggressively filing the plate, or cutting protective skin.

These signs can have different causes and are not safely diagnosed from colour alone. Defer the affected service when infection, injury, or disease is suspected, avoid covering the problem with an enhancement, and recommend medical assessment. Clean/disinfect appropriately and never treat a suspicious condition with salon antibiotics or antifungals.

A compatible monomer/polymer system polymerizes as directed; use the manufacturer’s mix, ventilation, contact precautions, and cure/removal method. Tennessee prohibits liquid methylmethacrylate in establishments and schools under Rule 0440-02-.17. An alternative such as EMA is not automatically harmless or suitable for every client.

Consult and inspect, shape without thinning or injuring the plate, and soften/remove only appropriate nonliving tissue using permitted techniques. Keep products off living skin, clean and disinfect reusable implements, and discard single-use items. Pain, bleeding, or separation means stop and reassess rather than continue filing.

Reduced sensation, poor circulation, wounds, or impaired healing require extra caution and may contraindicate treatment or require medical guidance. Do not assume every client with diabetes either must or may receive an ordinary pedicure. Avoid cutting skin, excessive heat, or aggressive callus removal; defer if safety cannot be established.

Use the gel system’s compatible lamp and specified cure time; a hard surface alone does not prove full cure. Avoid skin contact with uncured product. For removal, determine whether the product is soak-off or file-off and follow its directions without tearing the natural nail or using excessive filing/heat.

The Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners administers the Cosmetology Act, T.C.A. Title 62 Chapter 4, and Rules 0440-01/0440-02. PSI administers examinations. A passing score is not itself a licence; confirm active licensure or a specifically applicable authorization before working and comply with both personal and shop scope.

Applicants must be at least 16 and complete 1,500 hours:300 general+600 chemical+600 physical. An approved school apprenticeship curriculum permits 50% classroom and 50% supervised hours, with initial theory passed before salon apprenticeship. The supervisor must have at least 10 years in the field, a current Tennessee licence, and meet the rule’s supervision/record conditions; it is not informal chairside experience.

The cosmetologist route is 1,500 hours; the separate manicurist route is 600, aesthetician 750, natural hair stylist 300, and eyelash specialist 300. A cosmetologist may perform the services within the statutory cosmetologist scope, including specified skin/nail work and safety-razor shaving; this does not authorize every master-barber, medical, or invasive procedure.

Pass all examinations within 3 years after the initial theory pass, and pay the original licence fee within 6 months of notice of passing or face re-examination unless the Board grants good cause. Individual cosmetologist initial/renewal fees are $60; renewal is biennial. The individual late fee is $25 after expiry, not a blanket 30-day grace. Long-expired licences require the Board’s reinstatement process; do not assume an old waiver remains available.

Prominently display the personal licence wherever practising/teaching and the shop licence in a clear, conspicuous place. Working licensees wear an identification tag with file number. Notify/update the Board within 30 days of an address change through CORE. Do not assume a pass report or payment receipt alone gives permission to work while the licence is pending.

Obtain the appropriate shop licence and required inspection before opening, including after a relocation or ownership change as directed by the Board. The manager/designated manager must meet licensure requirements and be present while services occur, subject to the rule’s limited absence provisions. The manager and each practitioner retain sanitation responsibilities; post the manager’s name and make the licence number available.

Liquid methylmethacrylate is prohibited. Do not remove living tissue or perform invasive/medical procedures outside the licence scope; select noninjurious permitted callus care rather than cutting skin. Rule 0440-01-.14 permits civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with an individual act or continued day potentially treated separately. Penalties are not automatically $1,000 for every mistake.

Check licence scope, eye/skin condition, allergy history, product intended use, and adhesive/remover directions. Protect the eye, maintain hygiene and ventilation, and avoid contact with the ocular surface. Do not proceed on an irritated or infected area; a patch test does not guarantee freedom from allergy.

Use only a product intended and legally permitted for that precise site and follow its testing, placement, timing, and removal directions. Ordinary scalp hair dye must not be assumed safe for eyebrows or eyelashes. Screen contraindications and protect the eyes; stop and respond appropriately to irritation or exposure.