Cosmetology License Exam Hair Care: Shampooing, Cutting, and Styling Syllabus

Hair Care: Shampooing, Cutting, and Styling syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Hair Care: Shampooing, Cutting, and Styling in Cosmetology License Exam, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Properties of the Hair and Scalp

   4 topics

   • Hair Structure
     • Cuticle, cortex, and medulla
     • Hair root structures: follicle, bulb, papilla, arrector pili
     • Disulfide, salt, and hydrogen bonds
   • Hair Growth Cycle
     • Anagen, catagen, and telogen phases
     • Myths about hair growth
   • Hair Analysis Characteristics
     • Texture, density, porosity, and elasticity
     • Hair growth patterns (cowlicks, whorls)
   • Scalp and Hair Disorders
     • Dandruff (pityriasis), alopecia types
     • Disorders preventing service vs. those treatable in-salon
2. 2

   Shampooing, Rinsing, and Scalp Care

   5 topics

   • pH and chemistry of shampoos and conditioners
   • Water types: hard, soft, and water cycle relevance
   • Draping for wet and chemical services
   • Scalp massage manipulations and treatments
   • Client positioning and three-part service procedure
3. 3

   Haircutting Fundamentals

   4 topics

   • Reference Points and Sections of the Head
     • Parietal ridge, apex, occipital, four corners
     • Sectioning and parting for control
   • Cutting Lines, Angles, and Elevation
     • Horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines
     • Elevation and overdirection
     • Cutting line / finger angle
   • Four Basic Haircuts
     • Blunt (zero-elevation) cut
     • Graduated cut
     • Layered and uniform-layered cuts
   • Cutting Tools and Techniques
     • Shears, texturizing shears, razors, clippers
     • Texturizing: point cutting, slithering, slicing, notching
     • Clipper-over-comb and shear-over-comb
4. 4

   Hairstyling and Wet Sets

   6 topics

   • Finger waving and pin curls (parts and bases)
   • Roller placement, direction, and base control
   • Blow-dry styling and round-brush technique
   • Thermal styling: curling and flat irons
   • Hair pressing (silking) and safety with metal implements
   • Updos, braiding, and long-hair design
5. 5

   Wigs, Hair Additions, and Extensions

   4 topics

   • Human hair vs. synthetic hair characteristics
   • Wig construction: cap, hand-tied, and machine-made
   • Measuring, fitting, and cleaning wigs
   • Hair extension methods (bonding, fusion, track/sew-in)

Hair Care: Shampooing, Cutting, and Styling flashcards for Cosmetology License Exam

21 of 62 cards from the Hair Care: Shampooing, Cutting, and Styling deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three main layers of the hair shaft, from outermost to innermost?

   Cuticle (outer protective scale layer), Cortex (middle layer holding pigment and giving strength/elasticity), and Medulla (innermost core).

2. Which hair layer contains melanin and is responsible for about 90% of the hair's weight, strength, elasticity, and color?

   The cortex.

3. What protein makes up hair, and what type of protein is it?

   Keratin, a fibrous protein.

4. What are the two parts of a strand of hair, and where is each located?

   The hair root (below the skin's surface) and the hair shaft (the portion extending above the skin).

5. What is the follicle and what is the papilla in hair anatomy?

   The follicle is the tube-like depression in the skin that holds the root; the papilla is a cone-shaped elevation at the base of the follicle that supplies blood (nourishment) for hair growth.

6. What is the bulb in hair structure?

   The thickened, club-shaped base of the hair root that fits over and covers the papilla.

7. What is the arrector pili muscle?

   A small involuntary muscle attached to the hair follicle that contracts to cause 'goose bumps' and make hair stand up.

8. Name the three phases of the hair growth cycle in order.

   Anagen (growth phase), Catagen (transition phase), and Telogen (resting/shedding phase).

9. During which phase of the hair growth cycle is new hair produced, and roughly how long does it last?

   The anagen (growth) phase, which lasts on average 3 to 5 years.

10. What is the average rate of scalp hair growth per month?

    About one-half inch (1.25 cm) per month.

11. In hair analysis, what does 'hair texture' refer to and what are its three classifications?

    Texture is the thickness/diameter of a single hair strand, classified as coarse, medium, or fine.

12. In hair analysis, what does 'hair density' measure?

    The number of individual hair strands per square inch of scalp (how many hairs there are), classified as low, medium, or high.

13. What is hair porosity?

    The hair's ability to absorb moisture, liquids, or chemicals; classified as low, average (normal), or high porosity.

14. What is hair elasticity, and how much should wet hair with normal elasticity stretch?

    Elasticity is the hair's ability to stretch and return to its original length without breaking; wet hair with normal elasticity stretches up to about 50% of its length.

15. What is the medical (scientific) term for hair?

    Trichology is the study of hair; the technical term for hair is 'pili,' and the study of skin/its appendages relevant to it is dermatology.

16. What is the difference between hypertrichosis and alopecia?

    Hypertrichosis (hirsuties) is abnormal growth of excess hair; alopecia is abnormal hair loss.

17. What is the most common type of hair loss, and what causes it?

    Androgenic alopecia (male/female pattern baldness), caused by genetics and the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone).

18. What is the difference between dandruff (pityriasis) and the condition tinea?

    Pityriasis (dandruff) is excessive shedding/flaking of scalp skin cells; tinea is a contagious fungal (ringworm) infection of the skin/scalp.

19. Define the scalp disorders pediculosis capitis and scabies.

    Pediculosis capitis is infestation of the scalp with head lice; scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by the itch mite burrowing under the skin. Both are contagious and contraindicate salon service.

20. On the pH scale, where do most shampoos fall and why is a slightly acidic pH desirable for hair?

    Most shampoos are mildly acidic, around pH 4.5 to 6.0 (or 5.5); a slightly acidic pH closes/tightens the cuticle, leaving hair smooth and shiny. (Hair and skin average pH is about 5).

21. What is the main cleansing ingredient (surfactant) in shampoo, and how does it work?

    A surfactant (base detergent/wetting agent) such as sodium lauryl sulfate; it has a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and a lipophilic/hydrophobic (oil-attracting) tail that surrounds and lifts away oil and dirt so they rinse away with water.

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