Have you ever wanted to become a certified cosmetologist? The Cosmetology exam offered by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology is the only thing standing between you and your license!
Keep reading to learn more about the Cosmetology certification exam or take our Cosmetology state board exam practice test linked above!
Cosmetology Outline
For the written portion, test takers will have 90 minutes to complete 110 multiple-choice questions.
The Cosmetology state board test is broken down as follows:
- Scientific Concepts (35%)
- Hair Care and Services (45%)
- Skin Care and Services (10%)
- Nail Care and Services (10%)
With these subjects in mind, begin your study and preparation for the test now to get a head start!
Top 4 Most Challenging Cosmetology Questions
Now that you know more about the exam, try your hand at some targeted practice!
Over the last year, we’ve compiled the data from about 25,000 test-takers who tried their hand at the practice test at the top of this page. According to the data, around 60% of people answered these four questions incorrectly.
Answer each question and read through the answer explanation, whether you got the answer right or wrong. This will help you ensure you’ve got the topic mastered.
Whether you struggled with these questions or aced them on your first try, be sure to take the full practice test to get a better idea of how prepared you really are!
1. A service provider is using scalp astringent to treat a client’s oily, itchy scalp. When should he apply this product?
Scalp astringents are applied to wet hair once it has been shampooed and conditioned. Most scalp astringents are massaged into the scalp before they are fully rinsed from the hair. Once rinsed, hair can be dried and styled as normal.
2. A service provider is combing a client's hair in preparation for a haircut. She maintains a tight grasp on the comb and holds it at a 180-degree angle. When combing through severe mats of hair, she uses her other hand to support movement. She plans to stretch her wrists and hands when she is done.
Which of the following changes should she make to maintain her hand and wrist health?
Using the nondominant hand to support movement takes some pressure off the joints and muscles of the dominant hand, making this a healthy practice. Stretching before and after appointments is also a healthy habit in maintaining muscle and joint health. Failing to do so can lead to muscle pain and tension.
3. Following makeup application on a client, which of the following should NOT be done by the service provider?
The same applies to cotton products, such as swabs or rounds. Pressed powder products, such as eyeshadow and face powder, can be safely disinfected. Using a spray intended for disinfecting makeup, the service provider should spray the powders and allow them to air dry before closing the container or palette that contains them.
Work surfaces are easily contaminated during makeup application, as many products and tools are used and then laid on the surface. It is necessary to clean and disinfect these surfaces to protect clients and providers. Any form of EPA-registered disinfectant can be used.
4. At the end of a hair lightening session, a provider notices the client’s skin has become darker in the areas to which the lightener was applied. Which of the following does this most likely indicate?
In this scenario, the darkened skin is indicative of tissue damage caused by a chemical burn. Hair lighteners are corrosive, and failure to adhere to manufacturer instructions when applying them can cause damage to the hair and skin.
Because a lightener is being used in this scenario and not a darkening color, the change of skin color does not indicate a failure to wash away all the product. Allowing the lightener to process longer would have caused more damage to the scalp. An incorrect color formula would have been indicated by an undesired resulting hair color, not the color of the scalp.
Cosmetology Online Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online Cosmetology prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!
Here’s what you’ll find in the Cosmetology course:
- 50+ Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- Over 650 Cosmetology Practice Questions
- 500+ Digital Flashcards
- Money-back Guarantee
- Mobile Access
Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the Cosmetology online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the Cosmetology exam.
Click below to check it out!
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Exam Scores
The scoring of the written portion of the exam is scaled. This means that if a test has more difficult questions than another version, the minimum score for that test will be lower. Likewise, an easier test will have a slightly higher minimum passing score.
Cosmetology Exam Study Guide
Mometrix Academy is a completely free Cosmetology practice exam resource provided by Mometrix Test Preparation. If you find benefit from our efforts here, check out our premium quality Cosmetology study guide to take your studying to the next level. Just click the Cosmetology study guide link below. Your purchase also helps us make even more great, free content for test-takers.
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