50 practice questions across 5 topics, each with a written explanation of why the correct answer is correct. Start below — the first questions are free and no account is required.
Hair Color and Chemical Services
What is the primary difference between a temporary and semi-permanent hair color?
- A. Temporary color contains peroxide; semi-permanent does not
- B. Temporary color coats the outside of the cuticle; semi-permanent partially penetrates the cortex
- C. Semi-permanent lasts longer because it uses ammonia
- D. Both types use oxidative dyes but different developers
Answer: B. Temporary color deposits pigment on the outside of the cuticle and washes out after one shampoo. Semi-permanent color uses small dye molecules that partially penetrate the cuticle layer, lasting 4–6 shampoos without peroxide or ammonia.
Infection Control and Sanitation
What is the difference between disinfection and sterilization?
- A. Disinfection kills all microorganisms including spores; sterilization reduces microbial count
- B. Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores; disinfection kills most but not all
- C. Both terms mean the same thing in a salon context
- D. Disinfection requires heat; sterilization uses chemicals only
Answer: B. Sterilization destroys ALL microorganisms including bacterial spores — it is the highest level of decontamination. Disinfection kills most pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi) but may not destroy spores. Salons typically use disinfection, not sterilization.
Nail Care and Nail Services
What is the technical term for the most visible part of the nail plate?
- A. Lunula
- B. Free edge
- C. Matrix
- D. Nail bed
Answer: B. The free edge is the distal portion of the nail plate that extends beyond the fingertip. It is the part that is filed, shaped, and polished. The nail bed lies beneath the plate, the matrix produces new nail cells, and the lunula is the white half-moon at the base.