Free TX Esthetician Exam Flashcards

750 hours of instruction at a TDLR-licensed barbering/cosmetology school. The hours cannot all be completed online — hands-on practical instruction is required. A combination Manicurist/Esthetician or Hair Weaving Specialist/Esthetician course is 800 hours.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates esthetician licensing through its Barbering and Cosmetology program. PSI is the contracted third-party vendor that administers both the written and practical exams.

A written theory exam and a separate hands-on practical skills exam. They are scored independently — you must pass both. Passing one does not carry over if you fail the other; only the failed part must be retaken.

Renew every 2 years. An expired license cannot legally be used to perform services. TDLR allows late renewal with added fees for a limited window; long lapses can require reapplication, so renew before the expiration date.

4 hours of TDLR-approved CE each 2-year cycle, of which at least 1 hour must cover sanitation. Recent rules also require human-trafficking prevention awareness training. CE keeps practitioners current on safety and infection-control standards.

It defines services a license legally permits — skin care, facials, makeup, and hair removal of the face/body. It excludes acts like cutting living tissue, injectables, or laser procedures reserved for medical professionals. Working outside scope is a violation.

Cutting, puncturing, or removing living tissue is a medical act outside the esthetician scope. Estheticians work only on the surface — extractions must stay non-invasive. Diagnosing or treating skin disease is reserved for physicians.

A personal license authorizes the individual to perform services. A separate salon (establishment) license/permit authorizes the physical location to operate. Both must be valid and posted; an establishment cannot run on a practitioner's license alone.

Stratum basale (germinativum) -> stratum spinosum -> stratum granulosum -> stratum lucidum (thick skin only) -> stratum corneum. New cells form at the basale and shed at the corneum, taking roughly a month to migrate up.

The epidermis is the outer, avascular barrier layer of dead and maturing keratinocytes. The dermis beneath it is living connective tissue holding blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands, collagen, and elastin.

Collagen gives skin firmness and strength; elastin gives it stretch and recoil. UV exposure, smoking, and aging degrade both, producing wrinkles and sagging. Protecting them is the rationale behind sun protection and antioxidant care.

Melanin gives skin its color and absorbs UV to shield deeper cells from damage. It is produced by melanocytes in the stratum basale. Uneven melanin activity causes hyperpigmentation (excess) or hypopigmentation (loss).

The acid mantle is a thin film of sebum and sweat on the skin surface, normally about pH 4.5-5.5 (slightly acidic). It inhibits bacteria and supports the barrier. Harsh, high-pH cleansers disrupt it and can trigger irritation.

Sebaceous (oil) glands secrete sebum to lubricate skin and hair, usually opening into follicles. Sudoriferous (sweat) glands secrete sweat to cool the body and excrete waste. Overactive sebaceous glands contribute to oily skin and comedones.

The Fitzpatrick scale (I-VI) rates how skin responds to UV, from always-burns/never-tans (I) to deeply pigmented/rarely burns (VI). Higher types have greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so peels, lasers, and waxing must be more cautious.

Primary lesions are the initial change — macules, papules, pustules, vesicles, nodules, tumors. Secondary lesions develop later from primary ones — crusts, scales, fissures, scars, ulcers. Recognizing them guides referral and contraindication decisions.

A comedone is a clogged follicle: open (blackhead) or closed (whitehead). A papule is a small raised, inflamed bump with no visible pus. A pustule is an inflamed lesion containing visible pus. Grading them shapes the facial approach.

An open comedone is dark because trapped sebum and keratin oxidize on contact with air, not because of dirt. Knowing this corrects client myths and explains why aggressive scrubbing does not 'clean out' the color.

Rosacea is chronic facial redness with flushing, visible capillaries, and sometimes papules/pustules, typically without comedones. Acne features comedones and is follicle-based. Rosacea clients need gentle, non-stimulating care and often medical referral.

Hyperpigmentation is excess melanin (sun spots, melasma, post-inflammatory marks). Telangiectasia is dilated/visible capillaries (couperose skin). One is a pigment issue, the other vascular — they call for different products and cautions.

Estheticians identify abnormal or contagious signs to avoid harm and refer out, but diagnosing is a medical act. Active herpes (cold sore) and impetigo are contagious contraindications — service is postponed and the client referred to a physician.

Cleanse -> analyze skin -> exfoliate -> steam/soften -> extractions -> massage -> treatment mask -> tone -> moisturize/SPF. The sequence preps the skin progressively; extractions follow softening so pores release more easily.

Heat and moisture soften sebum and loosen follicle contents, easing extraction with less pressure and trauma. Steam also boosts circulation. Forcing extractions on un-softened skin causes bruising and broken capillaries.

Effleurage (light gliding), petrissage (kneading), friction (deep rubbing/circular), tapotement (light tapping/percussion), and vibration. They relax muscles, increase circulation, and aid product absorption. Sessions usually begin and end with soothing effleurage.

Avoid massage over active acne pustules, open lesions, sunburn, severe rosacea, recent injectables/fillers, or undiagnosed lumps. Massage can spread bacteria, inflame conditions, or displace recent cosmetic work. When in doubt, refer or skip the step.

Mechanical exfoliation physically scrubs off dead cells (scrubs, brushing, microdermabrasion). Chemical exfoliation dissolves the bonds between cells using acids or enzymes. Mechanical is more abrasive; chemical can penetrate deeper and is selected by skin type and goal.

AHAs (glycolic, lactic) are water-soluble and work on the surface for dryness, dullness, and pigmentation. BHA (salicylic acid) is oil-soluble and penetrates into follicles, so it suits oily, acne-prone skin. Choosing the right acid matches the client's concern.

Retinoids, recent isotretinoin, and exfoliating actives thin the skin and raise burn risk; sunburned or freshly tanned skin is already compromised. Peeling over these can cause excessive irritation, hyperpigmentation, or scarring — hence pre-peel screening.

Estheticians perform only superficial (light) peels that affect the epidermis. Medium and deep peels reaching the dermis are medical procedures performed under physician supervision. Staying superficial keeps the service safe and within license limits.

A patch test screens for adverse reactions before full-face application. Timing the acid and neutralizing/removing it as directed prevents over-processing. Leaving a peel on too long can cause burns; following the product protocol protects the client.

Soft wax is applied thin and removed with a fabric/paper strip; it grips fine hair and large areas. Hard wax is applied thick, hardens, and is pulled off without a strip; it is gentler for sensitive zones like the face, underarms, and bikini line.

Apply wax in the direction of hair growth and remove against the direction of growth, holding the skin taut. This pulls hair from the root cleanly and minimizes breakage, ingrowns, and bruising.

Re-dipping a used stick contaminates the entire pot with bacteria from the client's skin, creating cross-infection risk. Each application uses a fresh stick (no double-dip). This is a core TDLR sanitation expectation tested on the exam.

Avoid waxing over sunburn, active acne, eczema/psoriasis flares, open lesions, or skin on retinoids/recent chemical peels and isotretinoin. These areas can lift or tear when wax is removed. Diabetic and very thin skin needs extra caution.

Anagen is the active growth phase (hair is anchored and waxes best). Catagen is the brief transition phase. Telogen is the resting/shedding phase. Because hairs cycle, repeat sessions are needed to catch more follicles in anagen.

Cleaning removes visible debris with soap and water (always first). Disinfecting uses an EPA-registered product to kill most pathogens on hard, nonporous surfaces. Sterilizing destroys all microbial life. Salons disinfect; true sterilization (autoclave) is rare in esthetics.

Clean off debris, then fully immerse in an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant for the full label contact time, and store in a clean, covered container. Implements must be disinfected (or single-use discarded) before touching another client.

Porous/single-use items (wax sticks, cotton, gauze, sponges, paper) cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one use. Only hard, non-porous implements can be cleaned and immersed in disinfectant for reuse.

Stop the service, put on gloves, clean the wound, and apply an adhesive bandage. Disinfect any blood-contaminated surfaces/implements or discard single-use items, and place blood-soiled disposables in a sealed bag per bloodborne-pathogen rules.

Bactericidal kills bacteria, virucidal kills viruses, and fungicidal kills fungi. A salon disinfectant should carry the EPA registration and the claims needed for the pathogens of concern. Reading the label ensures the product is appropriate and used at correct dilution.

Hands are the leading route of cross-contamination. Washing (or using sanitizer) before and after each client breaks the chain of infection between the practitioner, the client, and tools. It protects both parties and is a standard TDLR sanitation requirement.

Galvanic current is a constant direct current. Desincrustation uses the negative pole with an alkaline solution to soften and emulsify sebum for deep cleansing. Iontophoresis uses polarity to push water-soluble product into the skin. Polarity choice drives the effect.

High-frequency (Tesla/violet ray) current produces a mild germicidal and warming effect, helping with acne and product penetration. Avoid on clients who are pregnant, have a pacemaker, epilepsy, or excessive metal implants/jewelry in the area.

Blue LED light targets acne-causing bacteria, while red LED light is used to support collagen and reduce the look of fine lines and redness. LED is non-thermal and non-invasive — a different tool from medical lasers, which are outside esthetician scope.

Bright and UV/visible light sources can strain or damage the eyes. Eye pads or goggles shield the client; the operator avoids looking directly at intense light. A Wood's lamp (UV) is used in a dark room to reveal pigment and skin conditions.

Emollients soften and smooth (oils, esters). Humectants draw and hold water (glycerin, hyaluronic acid). Surfactants cleanse and emulsify (help oil and water mix). Preservatives prevent microbial growth so products stay safe. Together they form stable formulas.

Oil-in-water emulsions feel lighter and absorb fast, suiting oily/combination skin. Richer, oil-heavy creams suit dry skin. Matching the base to the client's oil/moisture balance prevents clogging oily skin or under-moisturizing dry skin.

Exfoliation removes the outer dead layer, leaving fresh skin more UV-sensitive. Without broad-spectrum SPF, clients risk burning and hyperpigmentation, which can undo the treatment. Daily SPF is the single most important anti-aging and pigment-prevention step.

Review health/medication history, allergies, current skincare and actives (retinoids, recent peels), goals, and contraindications; perform a skin analysis; and document it. Consultation prevents adverse reactions and sets realistic expectations — it is the standard of care.

An absolute contraindication means the service must not be performed (e.g., active herpes outbreak before a facial wax, contagious infection). A relative one means proceed with caution or modification (e.g., sensitive skin, minor irritation). Recognizing which applies protects the client.