NORTH CAROLINA COSMETOLOGY WRITTEN EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*Infection Control and Safe Practices*
*Implements, Tools, and Equipment*
*Hair Care and Services*
*Chemical Texture Services*
*Hair Color and Lightening*
*Skin Care and Services*
*Nail Care and Services*
*North Carolina State Board Laws and Regulations*
*Introduction*
*The purpose of this comprehensive practice assessment is to prepare candidat
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which organization is responsible for approving the efficacy of disinfectants
used in a North Carolina salon?
,A. OSHA
B. FDA
🟢 C. EPA
D. CDC
🔴 RATIONALE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers all types of
disinfectants sold and used in the United States and approves their efficacy labels for
salon use.
2. What is the first step when a client is accidentally cut and begins to bleed during
a manicure?
🟢 A. Stop the service immediately
B. Apply an antiseptic
C. Put on gloves
D. Clean the wound with alcohol
🔴 RATIONALE: According to standard blood exposure procedures, the licensee
must first stop the service before attending to the injury or donning protective gear.
3. Which of the following is an example of a local infection?
,A. Influenza
B. Blood poisoning
🟢 C. A pustule or abscess
D. Hepatitis B
🔴 RATIONALE: A local infection is confined to a particular part of the body and
appears as a lesion containing pus, such as a pimple or abscess.
4. In North Carolina, how often must disinfectant solutions in a wet sanitizer be
changed?
A. Weekly
B. Every 24 hours
🟢 C. Daily or whenever it becomes cloudy/contaminated
D. After every three clients
🔴 RATIONALE: State regulations require that disinfectant solution be kept clean and
changed daily, or more frequently if it becomes visibly contaminated.
5. What is the primary purpose of the cuticle on the hair strand?
🟢 A. Protecting the inner structure of the hair
B. Providing hair with its natural color
, C. Determining the elasticity of the hair
D. Houses the protein and moisture balance
🔴 RATIONALE: The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, consisting of
overlapping scales that protect the inner cortex.
6. A client has wavy hair and wants it to look straight. Which bonds are broken
during a permanent waving or relaxing service?
A. Hydrogen bonds
B. Salt bonds
🟢 C. Disulfide bonds
D. Peptide bonds
🔴 RATIONALE: Chemical services like relaxing or perming break and reform
disulfide bonds, which are the strong chemical side bonds that can only be altered
chemically.
7. Which of the following bacteria are corkscrew-shaped and cause diseases such
as syphilis or Lyme disease?
A. Bacilli
B. Cocci
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
*Core Domains*
*Infection Control and Safe Practices*
*Implements, Tools, and Equipment*
*Hair Care and Services*
*Chemical Texture Services*
*Hair Color and Lightening*
*Skin Care and Services*
*Nail Care and Services*
*North Carolina State Board Laws and Regulations*
*Introduction*
*The purpose of this comprehensive practice assessment is to prepare candidat
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. Which organization is responsible for approving the efficacy of disinfectants
used in a North Carolina salon?
,A. OSHA
B. FDA
🟢 C. EPA
D. CDC
🔴 RATIONALE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers all types of
disinfectants sold and used in the United States and approves their efficacy labels for
salon use.
2. What is the first step when a client is accidentally cut and begins to bleed during
a manicure?
🟢 A. Stop the service immediately
B. Apply an antiseptic
C. Put on gloves
D. Clean the wound with alcohol
🔴 RATIONALE: According to standard blood exposure procedures, the licensee
must first stop the service before attending to the injury or donning protective gear.
3. Which of the following is an example of a local infection?
,A. Influenza
B. Blood poisoning
🟢 C. A pustule or abscess
D. Hepatitis B
🔴 RATIONALE: A local infection is confined to a particular part of the body and
appears as a lesion containing pus, such as a pimple or abscess.
4. In North Carolina, how often must disinfectant solutions in a wet sanitizer be
changed?
A. Weekly
B. Every 24 hours
🟢 C. Daily or whenever it becomes cloudy/contaminated
D. After every three clients
🔴 RATIONALE: State regulations require that disinfectant solution be kept clean and
changed daily, or more frequently if it becomes visibly contaminated.
5. What is the primary purpose of the cuticle on the hair strand?
🟢 A. Protecting the inner structure of the hair
B. Providing hair with its natural color
, C. Determining the elasticity of the hair
D. Houses the protein and moisture balance
🔴 RATIONALE: The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, consisting of
overlapping scales that protect the inner cortex.
6. A client has wavy hair and wants it to look straight. Which bonds are broken
during a permanent waving or relaxing service?
A. Hydrogen bonds
B. Salt bonds
🟢 C. Disulfide bonds
D. Peptide bonds
🔴 RATIONALE: Chemical services like relaxing or perming break and reform
disulfide bonds, which are the strong chemical side bonds that can only be altered
chemically.
7. Which of the following bacteria are corkscrew-shaped and cause diseases such
as syphilis or Lyme disease?
A. Bacilli
B. Cocci
