Cosmetology Instructor Study Guide questions with
verified answers
Abrasion Ans✓✓✓ A spot rubbed bare of skin.
Absorbent Ans✓✓✓ Having the power or capacity to take in, by suction.
Absorption (skin) Ans✓✓✓ The process by which a substance, placed on the
outer layer of the skin, penetrates to the underlying tissues.
Accelerator Ans✓✓✓ Any agent which hastens or quickens action; or that which
quickens or hastens the speed of; or causes to move or progress faster.
Acetic Acid Ans✓✓✓ A water-like solution related to vinegar. (Should be diluted
for cosmetic use.)
Acetone Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, inflammable, volatile liquid. Used as a nail polish
remover.
Acid Ans✓✓✓ Any substance which is on the low side of 7 on the pH scale, I.e.,
temporary color rinses, wet hair, peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice, cream rinses, etc.
Acid Rinse Ans✓✓✓ A solution of water and either citric or acetic acid, used to
remove soap curds or film from the hair. Also used to help remove snarls from the
hair.
Acne Ans✓✓✓ Any inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands.
,Activator Ans✓✓✓ Any agent, instrument, chemical or device which induces
action in an otherwise dormant substance.
Acute Ans✓✓✓ Having a short, sharp, and relatively severe course.
Adulterate Ans✓✓✓ The addition of an impure or unnecessary ingredient to
falsify a preparation.
Alcohol Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, volatile liquid which when properly diluted may be
used as an astringent and antiseptic.
Alkaline Ans✓✓✓ Any substance which is on the upside of 7 on the pH scale, I.e.,
ammonia water, commercial soaps, permanent wave lotions, sodium-hydroxide,
etc.
Allergy Ans✓✓✓ A condition of extreme sensitivity to certain things, food, or
chemicals, etc. which do not adversely affect most individuals.
Allergy Test Ans✓✓✓ A test to determine the existence or non-existence of
extreme sensitivity to certain things, foods, or chemicals, etc. which do not
adversely affect most individuals. Some times referred to as: predisposition tests,
patch tests, or skin tests.
Alopecia Areata Ans✓✓✓ Baldness in spots.
Alopecia Ans✓✓✓ Blandness, abnormal loss of hair.
,Alum Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, crystalline substance, with astringent and styptic
properties, soluble in water but not soluble in alcohol.
Ammonia Ans✓✓✓ A colorless gas with an extremely penetrating odor which is
soluble in water.
Ammonium Sulfite Ans✓✓✓ A chemical employed in the technique of chemical
hair straightening.
Angle Ans✓✓✓ The figure formed by the intersection of two straight lines at any
given point.
Aniline Ans✓✓✓ A coal tar derivative used in penetrating hair tints.
Aniline Derivative Hair Tint Ans✓✓✓ A synthetic organic hair dye or tint
produced from coal tar.
Antiperspirant Ans✓✓✓ A chemical solution in liquid or cream form used to aid
in checking the flow of perspiration.
Antiseptic Ans✓✓✓ A chemical agent which checks and prevents the growth of
germs.
Applicator Ans✓✓✓ A vehicle used in cosmetology to apply liquids, creams, or
electrical energy to the hair or the body.
, Ash Ans✓✓✓ A shade containing no red or gold tones (drab).
Astringent Ans✓✓✓ An agent which aids in the temporary contraction of the
pores of the skin and tends to retard secretion.
Baby Fine Hair Ans✓✓✓ A hair fiber that is fine to an extreme degree, due to its
particularly small diameter and delicate construction.
Back-Combing (Ruffing, Teasing) Ans✓✓✓ The process using a comb to pick-up
and push toward the scalp the shorter hairs in a hair strand for the purpose of
giving added fullness and/or control of the hair. (Should not be attempted unless
the hair has been properly tapered.)
Backward Curl Ans✓✓✓ Curls wound in a counterclockwise direction on the left
side of the head; on the right side of the head, such curls would be wound in a
clockwise direction.
Bacteria Ans✓✓✓ Minute one-celled organisms- microbes or germs.
Bangs Ans✓✓✓ Hair from the top of the head that is cut short and combed
forward onto the forehead.
Base Ans✓✓✓ The starting point or foundation of anything.
Basic Hair Shaping Ans✓✓✓ A haircut that is sufficiently versatile to accept a
variety of contemporary hair fashions with equal facility.
verified answers
Abrasion Ans✓✓✓ A spot rubbed bare of skin.
Absorbent Ans✓✓✓ Having the power or capacity to take in, by suction.
Absorption (skin) Ans✓✓✓ The process by which a substance, placed on the
outer layer of the skin, penetrates to the underlying tissues.
Accelerator Ans✓✓✓ Any agent which hastens or quickens action; or that which
quickens or hastens the speed of; or causes to move or progress faster.
Acetic Acid Ans✓✓✓ A water-like solution related to vinegar. (Should be diluted
for cosmetic use.)
Acetone Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, inflammable, volatile liquid. Used as a nail polish
remover.
Acid Ans✓✓✓ Any substance which is on the low side of 7 on the pH scale, I.e.,
temporary color rinses, wet hair, peroxide, vinegar, lemon juice, cream rinses, etc.
Acid Rinse Ans✓✓✓ A solution of water and either citric or acetic acid, used to
remove soap curds or film from the hair. Also used to help remove snarls from the
hair.
Acne Ans✓✓✓ Any inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands.
,Activator Ans✓✓✓ Any agent, instrument, chemical or device which induces
action in an otherwise dormant substance.
Acute Ans✓✓✓ Having a short, sharp, and relatively severe course.
Adulterate Ans✓✓✓ The addition of an impure or unnecessary ingredient to
falsify a preparation.
Alcohol Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, volatile liquid which when properly diluted may be
used as an astringent and antiseptic.
Alkaline Ans✓✓✓ Any substance which is on the upside of 7 on the pH scale, I.e.,
ammonia water, commercial soaps, permanent wave lotions, sodium-hydroxide,
etc.
Allergy Ans✓✓✓ A condition of extreme sensitivity to certain things, food, or
chemicals, etc. which do not adversely affect most individuals.
Allergy Test Ans✓✓✓ A test to determine the existence or non-existence of
extreme sensitivity to certain things, foods, or chemicals, etc. which do not
adversely affect most individuals. Some times referred to as: predisposition tests,
patch tests, or skin tests.
Alopecia Areata Ans✓✓✓ Baldness in spots.
Alopecia Ans✓✓✓ Blandness, abnormal loss of hair.
,Alum Ans✓✓✓ A colorless, crystalline substance, with astringent and styptic
properties, soluble in water but not soluble in alcohol.
Ammonia Ans✓✓✓ A colorless gas with an extremely penetrating odor which is
soluble in water.
Ammonium Sulfite Ans✓✓✓ A chemical employed in the technique of chemical
hair straightening.
Angle Ans✓✓✓ The figure formed by the intersection of two straight lines at any
given point.
Aniline Ans✓✓✓ A coal tar derivative used in penetrating hair tints.
Aniline Derivative Hair Tint Ans✓✓✓ A synthetic organic hair dye or tint
produced from coal tar.
Antiperspirant Ans✓✓✓ A chemical solution in liquid or cream form used to aid
in checking the flow of perspiration.
Antiseptic Ans✓✓✓ A chemical agent which checks and prevents the growth of
germs.
Applicator Ans✓✓✓ A vehicle used in cosmetology to apply liquids, creams, or
electrical energy to the hair or the body.
, Ash Ans✓✓✓ A shade containing no red or gold tones (drab).
Astringent Ans✓✓✓ An agent which aids in the temporary contraction of the
pores of the skin and tends to retard secretion.
Baby Fine Hair Ans✓✓✓ A hair fiber that is fine to an extreme degree, due to its
particularly small diameter and delicate construction.
Back-Combing (Ruffing, Teasing) Ans✓✓✓ The process using a comb to pick-up
and push toward the scalp the shorter hairs in a hair strand for the purpose of
giving added fullness and/or control of the hair. (Should not be attempted unless
the hair has been properly tapered.)
Backward Curl Ans✓✓✓ Curls wound in a counterclockwise direction on the left
side of the head; on the right side of the head, such curls would be wound in a
clockwise direction.
Bacteria Ans✓✓✓ Minute one-celled organisms- microbes or germs.
Bangs Ans✓✓✓ Hair from the top of the head that is cut short and combed
forward onto the forehead.
Base Ans✓✓✓ The starting point or foundation of anything.
Basic Hair Shaping Ans✓✓✓ A haircut that is sufficiently versatile to accept a
variety of contemporary hair fashions with equal facility.
