Cosmetology Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

Hydroxide relaxer: Correct. Hydroxide relaxers are the most alkaline chemical texture products used in the salon, which is why they need base protection and careful timing.

Thio relaxer: Lower pH: thio relaxers are alkaline but less so than hydroxide relaxers.

Alkaline permanent wave: Lower pH: alkaline (cold) waves are below thio relaxers on the pH scale.

Acid-balanced permanent wave: Lowest of the four: acid-balanced waves are close to the natural pH of hair.

Relative pH, highest to lowest: hydroxide relaxer > thio relaxer > alkaline wave > acid-balanced wave.

Answer: A

Soft-curl permanent: Correct. A soft-curl permanent (curl re-forming) uses thioglycolate. Hydroxide and thio are incompatible, and thio over hydroxide-relaxed hair causes severe damage or breakage.

Hydroxide relaxer retouch: Compatible: a hydroxide relaxer retouch on the new growth matches the original hydroxide chemistry.

Protein reconstructor: Compatible: a protein conditioning treatment strengthens relaxed hair and involves no thio.

Demipermanent haircolor: Compatible with care: a low-alkaline deposit-only color can be used on relaxed hair after a strand test. The relaxer does not rule it out.

Hydroxide-relaxed hair cannot take thio services (soft curls, thio relaxers), and thio-treated hair cannot take hydroxide.

Answer: B

Stratum corneum: Too shallow: the corneum is the outer layer of dead cells. It has no blood supply, so a cut that stops there does not bleed.

Dermis: Correct. The epidermis has no blood vessels; blood vessels begin in the dermis, so any bleeding means the cut reached at least the dermis. Follow the blood exposure procedure.

Stratum granulosum: Too shallow: the granulosum is part of the epidermis, which is avascular.

Subcutaneous layer: Deeper than required: the subcutaneous (fatty) layer lies below the dermis. Bleeding proves the dermis was reached, not that the cut went deeper.

The epidermis is avascular; blood vessels, nerves and glands are in the dermis, the "true skin."

Answer: D

Rinse it under hot water: Wrong level: rinsing is not cleaning and disinfection, so the contaminated comb would go back on the client.

Wipe it with a clean towel: Wrong level: wiping removes little debris and does not disinfect.

Spray it with disinfectant: Skipped steps: spraying without cleaning first and without the label contact time does not disinfect the comb.

Use a disinfected comb: Correct. A dropped implement is contaminated; it is set aside to be cleaned and disinfected, and a clean, disinfected comb is used to continue.

Anything that touches the floor is contaminated: replace it, then clean and disinfect the dropped item before reuse.

Answer: A

indirect transmission.: Correct. Spread through a contaminated object (a comb, brush, towel or cape) rather than person-to-person contact is indirect transmission.

direct transmission.: Direct transmission is person-to-person contact such as touching or shaking hands; here the lice traveled on a shared implement.

airborne transmission.: Airborne transmission involves tiny particles suspended in the air; lice cannot travel through the air.

droplet transmission.: Droplet transmission is spread by coughs or sneezes at close range, which does not apply to lice on a comb.

Direct transmission = body contact; indirect transmission = contact with a contaminated object. Cleaning and disinfecting combs between clients breaks the indirect route.

Answer: C

Exothermic wave: Exothermic waves create their own heat and process strongly, so they suit resistant hair, not fragile hair.

Alkaline cold wave: The higher pH of an alkaline wave suits coarse or resistant hair and risks overprocessing porous hair.

Acid-balanced wave: Correct: acid-balanced waves have a lower pH and swell the hair less, so they are the gentler choice for fine, porous or color-treated hair.

Soft curl perm: A soft curl perm is a thio reformation for very curly hair, not a perm to add curl to fine hair.

Match strength to the hair: gentle, lower-pH products for fine, porous or tinted hair; stronger alkaline products for coarse, resistant hair.

Answer: A

Periodic strand tests: Correct. Periodic strand tests (pressing a strand to the scalp with the back of a comb or finger) show when the curl is reduced enough, so the relaxer is rinsed at the right time.

Maximum label time: Unsafe default: the label time is a limit, not a target; hair may be relaxed sooner, and processing longer causes damage.

Scalp tingling: Warning sign: tingling or burning means the scalp is irritated and the relaxer must be rinsed, not that the hair is relaxed.

Frizz on the ends: Wrong indicator: frizzy ends usually mean previous damage, not that the new growth is relaxed.

Relaxer processing is judged by periodic strand tests, never by tingling or by waiting out the maximum time.

Answer: B

Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is autoimmune, sudden round bald patches; it is not caused by braiding tension.

Traction alopecia: Correct. Traction alopecia is hair loss from repeated pulling on the follicle, typical of tight braids, cornrows and extensions; reduce tension and leave the hairline loose.

Postpartum alopecia: Postpartum alopecia is temporary shedding after pregnancy and is hormonal, not mechanical.

Androgenetic alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary thinning (receding hairline or crown thinning) that is not caused by pulling.

Tight braids and extensions can cause traction alopecia at the hairline; use moderate tension and avoid fragile edges.

Answer: B

0 degrees: 0° keeps all hair at one length with a solid weight line but no stacking.

45 degrees: Correct. Low-to-medium elevation, classically 45°, creates graduation: each strand falls just over the one below it, building the stacked weight line.

90 degrees: 90° removes weight to create uniform layers; it does not build a stacked shape.

180 degrees: 180° creates long layers and removes weight from the interior instead of stacking it at the nape.

Graduation (stacking, wedge or graduated bob) is built with low-to-medium elevation, classically 45°.

Answer: D

Apply a stimulating tonic: Stimulating tonics can irritate the scalp and are not applied before a relaxer.

Use gentle effleurage: Even light manipulation before a relaxer is avoided; massage belongs after, not before, a chemical service.

Use firm friction: Firm friction is the most irritating choice before a relaxer.

Omit the massage: Correct. Scalp massage and vigorous brushing are not given before a chemical service, because they can irritate the scalp and make chemical burns more likely.

No scalp massage or vigorous brushing before chemical services; it irritates the scalp the chemical will touch.

Answer: B

Give a patch test: A patch test checks for allergy to aniline-derivative tint; it does not detect metallic salts in the hair.

Test for metallic salts: Correct. Progressive "color restorers" usually contain metallic salts, which react with hydrogen peroxide in lighteners and tints (heat, breakage, odd color). A strand test for metallic salts is done before any chemical service.

Apply a color filler: A filler equalizes porosity and replaces missing pigment before tinting; it does not solve a metallic-dye incompatibility.

Use a low-volume lightener: Any peroxide-based product can react with metallic salts; lowering the volume does not make the service safe.

Gradual "color restorers" are metallic (progressive) dyes, incompatible with oxidation color, lightener and perms. Test the hair before proceeding.

Answer: A

Green: Correct. Green is opposite red on the color wheel, so a green corrector cancels visible redness.

Yellow: Yellow neutralizes purple or bluish discoloration, such as mild bruising, not redness.

Lavender: Lavender neutralizes a sallow or yellow cast; it is the complement of yellow, not red.

Peach: Peach or orange correctors cancel blue or dark under-eye circles on light-to-medium skin.

Corrective makeup uses complementary colors: green cancels red, lavender cancels yellow, peach/orange cancels blue.

Answer: C

Switch to hard wax: Hard wax is gentler than soft wax, but the contraindication applies to all waxing, not just strip wax.

Lower the wax temperature: Temperature is not the problem; the medication makes the skin itself fragile, so any wax can tear it.

Decline the waxing service: Correct. Isotretinoin (and retinoid use) thins and weakens the skin, so wax can lift skin along with the hair; waxing is contraindicated and the client should be referred to her physician.

Apply a pre-wax oil: A pre-wax product does not protect medication-thinned skin; the contraindication is missed.

Oral isotretinoin and topical or oral retinoids are contraindications to waxing because the skin can lift or tear.

Answer: B

circulated with an antiseptic solution.: Wrong product: antiseptics are for skin and do not disinfect a basin.

circulated with an EPA disinfectant.: Correct. After cleaning and rinsing, the basin is filled with an EPA-registered disinfectant and circulated for the full label contact time.

flushed again with very hot water.: Wrong level: hot water is not a registered disinfectant and does not disinfect the jets.

wiped dry with a clean towel.: Skipped step: drying comes after disinfection, not in place of it.

Clean first (remove debris with detergent), then disinfect with an EPA-registered disinfectant per the label.