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Alabama Cosmetology Theory Cheat Sheet

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Safety and Infection Control

  • 30% of exam
  • Infection Control Decontamination Exposure Incidents SDS Ventilation

Consultation and Analysis

  • 19% of exam
  • Client Intake Contraindications Patch Tests Hair Analysis Medical Referral

Hairstyling

  • 2% of exam
  • Textured Styling Extensions Hair Pieces Blowdrying Thermal Curling

Haircutting

  • 3% of exam
  • Hair Types Shears Razors Clippers Trimmers

Haircoloring

  • 10% of exam
  • Application Strand Test Lightening Color Theory Chemical Safety

Chemical Texture Services

  • 12% of exam
  • Virgin Hair Treated Hair Relaxing Permanent Waving Chemical Safety

Skin Care

  • 4% of exam
  • Massage Exfoliation Hot Towels Facials Calluses

Eyelash and Eyebrow

  • 4% of exam
  • Enhancements Chemical Services Tinting Adhesives Removal

Hair Removal

  • 8% of exam
  • Depilatories Waxing Sugaring Tweezing Threading

Nail Care

  • 8% of exam
  • Manicure Pedicure Ventilation Natural Nails Enhancements

Quick Facts

  • Test Cosmetology Theory
  • Provider PSI
  • Effective May 1 2026
  • Scored 100 questions
  • Experimental 10 questions
  • Time 120 min
  • Pass 70%
  • Materials Closed book
  • Order Written before practical

Infection Sequence SA

  • Clean, disinfect, protect, then serve.
  • Cleaning Disinfection Storage Safety

Cleaning vs Disinfection SA

Cleaning

  • Removes visible debris
  • First decontamination step
  • Prepares surfaces

Disinfection

  • Destroys many pathogens
  • Uses proper product
  • Follows cleaning
  • Remove debris then disinfect

Alabama Exam Picker SA

  • Ready to test → Apply to Board ( Seek approval )
  • Approval received → Schedule with PSI ( Book written )
  • Theory test starts → 120-minute plan ( Closed book )
  • Review blueprint → Safety first ( 30% )
  • Written exam passed → Apply practical ( Required next )
  • Exam fails → Reapply ( Board process )

Infection and Safety SA

  • Pathogen Disease-causing organism
  • Cross-contamination Transfer of contamination
  • Cleaning Remove visible debris
  • Disinfection Destroy many surface pathogens
  • Sterilization Destroy all microbial life
  • Exposure incident Potential pathogen contact
  • Single-use item Discard after one client
  • SDS Chemical safety information

Exam Sequence SA

  • Written opens practical.
  • Board approval PSI Written Practical

Disinfection vs Sterilization SA

Disinfection

  • Surface pathogen control
  • Proper disinfectant
  • Not all microbial life

Sterilization

  • All microbial life
  • Highest decontamination level
  • Includes spores
  • High control vs highest

Workstation and Tools SA

  • Daily workstation Daily cleaning target
  • Contaminated tool Requires proper decontamination
  • Disinfected storage Protected clean-tool storage
  • Chemical label Chemical identification information
  • Chemical storage Safe material storage
  • Protective barrier Client chemical protection
  • Electrical safety Safe equipment operation
  • Ventilation Air-quality control

Written vs Practical SA

Written theory

  • 100 scored questions
  • 120 minutes
  • Closed book

Practical

  • Hands-on topic areas
  • Written required first
  • Separate test
  • Knowledge before performance

Consultation Sequence CO

  • Analyze first; select safely.
  • Intake Condition Contraindication Service

Patch Test vs Strand Test CO

Patch test

  • Allergy-reaction screening
  • Client safety
  • Before exposure

Strand test

  • Color-result preview
  • Hair outcome
  • Before color service
  • Reaction vs result

Service Safety Picker CO

  • Service begins → Client intake ( Assess condition )
  • Contraindication appears → Decline or alter ( Protect client )
  • Medical concern appears → Medical referral ( No diagnosis )
  • Allergy risk exists → Patch test ( Follow procedure )
  • Tool is contaminated → Clean then disinfect ( Follow product label )
  • Single-use item used → Discard item ( No reuse )

Consultation and Analysis CO

  • Client intake Service-information collection
  • Consent form Client authorization record
  • Contraindication Reason to decline service
  • Patch test Allergy-reaction screening
  • Hair analysis Hair-condition assessment
  • Skin analysis Skin-condition assessment
  • Nail analysis Nail-condition assessment
  • Medical referral Recommend medical opinion

Contraindication vs Adverse Reaction CO

Contraindication

  • Reason not to serve
  • Found before service
  • Decline or alter

Adverse reaction

  • Undesired product response
  • During or after
  • Stop and protect
  • Before risk vs response

Theory Test Facts CO

  • Scored questions 100 contribute score
  • Experimental questions 10 unscored items
  • Time limit 120 minutes
  • Passing score At least 70%
  • Test format Closed book
  • Written approval Board approval first
  • Practical order Written exam first

Styling and Cutting HA

  • Textured styling Texture-focused hair procedures
  • Braiding Textured styling procedure
  • Hair extension Added-hair enhancement
  • Hair piece Hair replacement addition
  • Blowdrying Airflow styling procedure
  • Thermal curling Heat-curling procedure
  • Haircutting Hair-shaping procedure
  • Cutting implements Shears razors clippers

Hair Service Picker HA

  • Choose color formula → Hair analysis ( Assess condition )
  • Preview color result → Strand test ( Check outcome )
  • Lighten hair → Lightening procedure ( Use safely )
  • Change texture → Chemical texturing ( Assess results )
  • Hair is processed → Treated-hair procedure ( Use precautions )
  • Use thermal tools → Thermal precautions ( Protect scalp )

Color and Texture HA

  • Haircolor application Color-product placement
  • Strand test Color-result preview
  • Hair lightening Lightening-product procedure
  • Color theory Color formulation principles
  • Virgin hair Previously untreated hair
  • Chemically treated hair Previously processed hair
  • Chemical texturing Texture-changing service
  • Process result Chemical outcome assessment

Skin and Hair Removal SK

  • Facial massage Safe facial movements
  • Exfoliation Surface-skin removal
  • Hot towels Controlled towel application
  • Eyelash enhancement Lash application service
  • Eyebrow tinting Brow color procedure
  • Waxing Wax hair removal
  • Sugaring Sugar-paste hair removal
  • Tweezing Individual-hair removal

Nail Care Basics NA

  • Nail safety Safe nail-service practices
  • Filing Nail-shaping procedure
  • Buffing Surface-smoothing procedure
  • Cuticle removal Safe cuticle procedure
  • Manicure Hand and nail service
  • Pedicure Foot and nail service
  • Nail ventilation Particulate-control practice
  • Nail enhancement Artificial nail service

Common Traps

Score Trap

  • 100 scored ≠ 110 delivered ≠ Experimental ≠ scored

Decontamination Trap

  • Cleaning ≠ disinfection ≠ Disinfection ≠ sterilization

Test Trap

  • Patch test ≠ strand test ≠ Written ≠ practical

Service Trap

  • Contraindication ≠ adverse reaction ≠ Analyze ≠ diagnose

Hair Trap

  • Virgin ≠ treated hair ≠ Color ≠ texture service

Tool Trap

  • Single-use ≠ reusable ≠ Storage ≠ disinfection

Last Minute

  • 1. Safety and Infection Control: 30%
  • 2. Consultation and Analysis: 19%
  • 3. Haircoloring: 10%; Texture: 12%
  • 4. Hair Removal and Nails: 8%
  • 5. 100 scored plus 10 experimental
  • 6. 120 minutes; closed book
  • 7. Pass mark: 70%
  • 8. Clean before disinfection
  • 9. Check contraindications before service
  • 10. Patch test checks reactions
  • 11. Strand test previews color
  • 12. Written exam before practical

Alabama Cosmetology

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