Every number on the Florida cosmetology, with its source
282 exact values pulled out of the study guides and put in one place, each one carrying the statute, rule or standard it comes from. These are the figures the exam turns on and the ones people lose points to — the difference between 14 days and 21 days is a whole question.
282 values
Hair Coloring and Lightening
| Level scale | 1 = black through 10 = lightest blonde; describes lightness only, never warmth |
| Color code, e.g. 7N | Number = level, letter = tone or reflect |
| Melanin types | Eumelanin = brown and black; pheomelanin = red and yellow. Both in the cortex |
| Underlying pigment sequence | Red → red-orange → orange (levels 5–6) → yellow-orange (7) → yellow (8–9) → pale yellow (10) |
| Primary colors | Red, yellow, blue — cannot be made by mixing |
| Secondary colors | Orange (red+yellow), green (blue+yellow), violet (red+blue) |
| Tertiary color | A primary mixed with the secondary adjacent to it on the wheel |
| Complementary pairs | Blue↔orange, violet↔yellow, green↔red. Mixing a pair neutralizes toward brown |
| Warm family / cool family | Warm: red, orange, gold, copper. Cool: blue, green, violet — sold as ash, pearl, platinum |
| 10 volume developer | Deposit only, no lift — demi-permanent and toning |
| 20 volume developer | 1–2 levels of lift; standard for permanent color and gray coverage |
| 30 / 40 volume developer | 30 = 2–3 levels; 40 = 3–4 levels |
| Mixing two developers | Equal parts AVERAGES: 20 + 40 = 30 volume |
| Oxidizer vs alkalizer | Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes; ammonia raises pH and swells the cuticle |
| Permanent color pH | Alkaline, above 7 |
| Temporary color | Coats the cuticle, no developer, out in one shampoo |
| Semi-permanent color | No developer, deposits only, fades gradually |
| Demi-permanent color | Low-volume developer, deposits without lifting; the gray-blend and glaze category |
| Toner | Applied to PRE-LIGHTENED hair; pale ash blonde needs the hair at pale yellow first |
| Double process | Two steps: lighten, then tone |
| Powder lightener | Off-scalp only; strongest form and it dries as it works |
| Predisposition (patch) test | 24–48 hours before an aniline derivative tint; behind the ear or inner elbow; positive = refer to a physician |
| Strand test | Determines processing time and the result the formula will give |
| Virgin lightening application | Begin about half an inch off the scalp; scalp area last, because body heat speeds it |
| Retouch | New growth only. Overlapping causes breakage and a line of demarcation |
| Sectioning and timing | Four sections; timing counted from when the LAST section is applied |
| Highlight techniques | Weave = finest, most blended; slice = bolder band; balayage = freehand surface painting; foil isolates from surrounding hair |
| Filler | Evens porosity and replaces missing pigment before going several levels darker on porous hair |
| Resistant gray | Tight cuticle, low porosity — pre-soften first; at ~70% gray add a natural/neutral base |
| Histories that force a strand test | Metallic salts (gradual home darkening) and henna — both react with peroxide |
| Non-metallic bowl | Metal reacts with peroxide and the alkaline components, changing processing and result |
| Absolute stop | No lightener on a scalp with abrasions or open sores; burning during service = rinse immediately |
Permanent Waving and Chemical Relaxing
| Hydrogen bonds | Temporary shape — a wet set. Broken by water |
| Disulfide bonds | Permanent bonds; broken by a perm's reduction step |
| Perm chemistry | Waving solution = REDUCTION; neutralizer = OXIDATION, rebuilding bonds in the new shape |
| Alkaline (cold) wave | Ammonium thioglycolate; room temperature; the stronger system |
| Acid-balanced wave | Lower pH; generally needs added heat; gentler |
| Exothermic wave | Creates its own heat by chemical reaction when mixed |
| Alkaline wave timing | Most processing happens in the first five to ten minutes |
| Under-processed perm | Weak, limp curl that relaxes within a few days |
| Over-processed perm | Conditioning treatments and postpone chemical services — there is no chemical fix |
| Curl size | Set by ROD DIAMETER. Soft loose wave = large-diameter rods |
| Concave rod | Tighter curl at the center of the rod than at its ends |
| Croquignole wrap | Ends toward the scalp — the standard wrap |
| Spiral wrap | Uniform curl size scalp to ends — the long-hair answer |
| End papers / fishhooks | Control and smooth the ends; sharp bent ends mean they were not smoothly enclosed |
| Panel width / base section | Panel width = rod length; base section = the portion measured for one rod |
| On-base placement | Greatest volume at the scalp |
| Winding tension | Enough to keep the strand smooth, without stretching |
| Cotton coil | Around the hairline before waving lotion; replaced when saturated |
| Neutralizing sequence | Rinse thoroughly and blot → neutralizer → wait the specified time → remove rods |
| After a perm | Wait the manufacturer's stated period before washing, commonly 24–48 hours |
| Perm and color sequence | Perm first, then color after the recommended interval |
| Lanthionization | Hydroxide converts a disulfide bond into a single lanthionine bond — permanent, irreversible |
| Lye relaxer | Sodium hydroxide |
| No-lye relaxers | Potassium, lithium, guanidine hydroxide — still hydroxide, still lanthionization |
| Guanidine relaxer mix | Calcium hydroxide cream + guanidine carbonate activator, mixed on site |
| Thio relaxer | Breaks disulfide bonds; needs an OXIDIZING neutralizer |
| Hydroxide relaxer pH | Strongly alkaline, above 11 — reaching 13 or 14 |
| Neutralizing shampoo | Acid-balanced; stops the action and restores pH. Rebuilds nothing |
| Base vs no-base relaxer | Base = separate oil barrier applied first; no-base = protective agent built into the formula |
| Relaxer strength | Mild / regular / super — chosen by texture, porosity and resistance. Never by desired straightness |
| Virgin relaxer application | Start a quarter to half an inch off the scalp; scalp area last; begin with the most resistant section |
| Relaxer partings | Thin and even, commonly around a quarter inch |
| Overlapping | Severe breakage at the overlapped point — breakage about an inch from the scalp is the signature |
| Texturizer | Processes for less time — loosens rather than straightens |
| Relaxer applicator | Non-metallic brush or the back of a comb — metal can react with the chemical |
| Burning during service | Rinse immediately — relaxer or waving lotion, no exceptions |
| Keratin smoothing hazard | Formaldehyde released as vapor when heated — an operator exposure issue |
| Absolute contraindications | Open sores or abrasions; poor elasticity; metallic dye; recently lightened hair; incompatible chemistry |
General Safety and Sanitation Procedures
| Cleaning | Removes visible debris; kills nothing; prerequisite for disinfection |
| Sanitizing | Reduces surface numbers only — not the salon standard for implements |
| Disinfection | Kills most pathogens on hard non-porous surfaces, but NOT spores. The salon level |
| Sterilization | Destroys all microbial life including spores; requires an autoclave; a medical standard |
| Bacterial spore | A dormant, protected form that survives hostile conditions |
| Antiseptic vs disinfectant | Antiseptic = on skin, milder. Disinfectant = on surfaces, stronger, carries the EPA registration |
| Ultraviolet cabinet | Storage for already-disinfected implements. Not a disinfectant |
| Disinfectant registration | EPA — disinfectants are pesticides under federal law |
| Minimum efficacy claims | Bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal |
| Contact time | As stated on the manufacturer's label; varies by product |
| Dilution | Exactly the label ratio — deviation in either direction invalidates the claims |
| Changing the solution | At the label's interval, and immediately if cloudy or soiled. Topping up does not restore strength |
| Removing implements | Gloves, tongs or a lift-out basket — never bare hands |
| Storage after disinfection | Clean, covered container, clearly identified, separate from soiled |
| Single-use items | Wooden orangewood sticks, paper-backed files, buffing blocks, cotton — discarded |
| Clipper blade | Hair removed, then an approved disinfectant spray — it cannot be immersed |
| Blood exposure sequence | Stop → glove → control the bleeding → disinfect the implement |
| Blood-contaminated surface | A disinfectant registered effective against HIV and hepatitis B |
| Blood-contaminated cotton / used blade | Sealed marked bag per local requirements / puncture-resistant sharps container |
| Hepatitis B | The bloodborne virus of particular salon concern — survives on surfaces for an extended period |
| Standard precautions | Every client, every time — infection status is often unknown, including to the client |
| Hand washing | Before and after every client. Sanitizer only if not visibly soiled AND no sink — never after blood |
| Staphylococci | Round, growing in clusters resembling a bunch of grapes |
| Local vs systemic infection | Local affects one area; systemic affects the whole body |
| Indirect transmission | Through a contaminated object — the shared implement. Interrupted by disinfecting between clients |
| Bacterial growth conditions | Warm, moist, with nourishment |
| Head lice | Classified as a parasite |
| Safety Data Sheet | Hazards, handling, storage, first aid — kept for EVERY product used or stored |
| Decanted container | Must be labeled with contents and hazards; a color code is not enough |
| Never mix | Two disinfectants — chlorine bleach with an ammonia-based cleaner releases toxic gas |
| Between-client disinfection | Workstation surface, styling chair including headrest and armrests, shampoo bowl including the hose |
| Foot spa | Basin disinfected between clients PLUS screens, jets and inlets cleaned on a set schedule |
| Electrical | Frayed cord = out of service; disconnect by the plug; cords clear of walkways and water |
| Greatest fire hazard | Aerosol hairspray used near a heat source |
| Chemical in the eye | Flush with cool running water and seek medical help |
| Station responsibility | The licensee working at it — disciplined personally for violations found there |
Client Services, Analysis and Scalp Care
| Texture | The diameter of an individual strand |
| Density | How many strands there are — independent of texture |
| Porosity test | Slide the fingers along a strand toward the scalp |
| Resistant hair | Tightly compacted cuticle and low porosity |
| Good elasticity | Stretches about half its length when wet without breaking, and recovers |
| Strongest reason to postpone | A wet strand that stretches and does not recover |
| Growth patterns | The direction hair grows from the scalp — cowlicks, whorls |
| When analysis happens | Before every service, on dry hair, before the shampoo |
| Consultation timing | Before every service, including for returning clients |
| The most useful question | How much time she spends on her hair each morning |
| Reflective listening | Repeating back what the client said to confirm you understood |
| Confirm before starting | That both agree on the service, the result AND the cost |
| Most common cause of dissatisfaction | A gap between what the client pictured and what was delivered |
| Shampoo water temperature | Warm, tested and adjusted with the client's comfort in mind |
| Scalp manipulation | Cushions of the fingertips, firm circular motion — never nails |
| Clarifying shampoo | For heavy styling product build-up |
| Acid-balanced conditioner | Closes the cuticle the alkaline shampoo lifted, and smooths the strand |
| Hard water | Mineral deposits build up and leave hair dull and rough |
| Draping by service | Dry cut = cape over neck strip; wet service = shampoo drape; chemical = towel under waterproof cape |
| Cortex | Contains the natural pigment; where permanent chemical change happens |
| Anagen | The active growing phase of the hair growth cycle |
| Trichoptilosis | Split ends — the hair shaft has frayed |
| Traction alopecia | Patchy loss from sustained tension on the follicles — tight braids at the hairline |
| Tinea capitis | A contagious fungal infection of the scalp — refer |
| Dandruff requiring referral | The greasy, waxy form WITH inflammation |
| Head lice found mid-service | Stop, inform the client privately, and refer them |
| Scalp massage avoided | Abrasions, inflammation or open sores |
| Scalp treatment timing | A separate appointment, not immediately before a chemical service |
| Record card contents | Services, formulas, timings, results and any reactions |
| Release form | Documents that the client was informed of the risks. Nothing more |
| Medications disclosed | Record it and, where a service could interact, ask her to check with her doctor |
| Pregnancy / minors | Note it, ventilate, suggest she confirm with her doctor / a parent or guardian consents |
| Face shape reference | The oval — others are described against it |
| Corrective styling principle | Add volume where the face is narrow, reduce it where it is wide |
| Rebooking interval | The service performed AND how quickly this client's hair grows |
| Retail basis | What the client's hair needs to maintain the service at home |
Hair Cutting, Shaping and Styling
| 0 degrees | Blunt, one-length cut |
| 45 degrees | Stacked, wedge-shaped weight line — graduation |
| 90 degrees | Uniform layers throughout |
| Above 90 degrees | More weight removed, longer layers |
| Stationary guide | Weight, or increasing length, as sections travel to one line |
| Traveling guide | Taken from the previous section; moves with you — uniform layers |
| Design line | The line the whole cut is measured and built from |
| Head position | A tilted head changes the effective elevation of every section |
| Tension | Must be even — uneven tension gives an uneven line once released |
| Cross-checking | Taking sections in the opposite direction to check for evenness |
| Parietal ridge | The widest area of the head, where it starts to curve |
| Thinning shears | Remove bulk without changing the length |
| Texturizing placement | Avoid close to the scalp, where short pieces would stick up |
| Razor | Wet hair only |
| Clipper guard | The numbered size of the guard determines the length left behind |
| Carrying shears | Closed, points down or in a holster; cleaned and disinfected between clients |
| Dense hair subsections | Thinner, so the guide stays visible through the section |
| Strong cowlick | Leave extra length so weight helps it lie down |
| Cutting curly hair wet | It shrinks considerably as it dries, so it ends up shorter |
| Before the first section | Confirm the length to be removed, SHOWN on the client's own hair |
| Checking the finished cut | Dry, before the client leaves — dry hair shows true length, fall and unevenness |
| Fine hair wanting fullness | A blunt perimeter line, which keeps the ends looking dense |
| Wet set vs perm | A set alters hydrogen bonds; a perm alters disulfide bonds |
| Why a set collapses in humidity | Moisture in the air re-breaks the hydrogen bonds |
| Removing rollers | Only when completely dry — hydrogen bonds re-form as the hair dries |
| On-base roller | Sitting fully within its own section — the most volume at the base |
| Roller size | Relative to the section, it decides curl versus directional movement only |
| Winding direction | Determines the direction the finished hair moves and falls |
| Pin curl parts | The base, the stem and the circle |
| No-stem pin curl | Circle on its own base — the tightest, least mobile curl |
| Finger waving | Waving lotion, on damp hair |
| Comb-out first step | Brushing the set through to relax and blend the curls |
| Backcombing | Pushing shorter hairs toward the scalp to build a cushion |
| Blow-dryer airflow | Downward, scalp toward ends, for the smoothest result |
| Round brush / diffuser | Round brush = tension, lift, curved movement. Diffuser = spread airflow, dry curl undisturbed |
| Finishing hairspray distance | About ten to twelve inches from the hair |
| Thermal iron | Completely dry hair; temperature tested on tissue or a damp cloth |
| Relaxed hair and heat | Lower temperature than virgin hair of the same texture |
| Iron near the root | A heat-resistant comb between the iron and the scalp |
| Dull, limp hair despite washing | Styling product and mineral build-up coating the hair |
| Braiding tension | Excessive tension can cause traction hair loss along the hairline |
| Reproducible at home | Determined by the time, tools and skill the client actually has |
Facials, Makeup and Hair Removal
| Epidermis | The outermost layer of the skin |
| Sebaceous gland | Produces the oil that lubricates skin and hair; attached to the follicle |
| Skin type vs condition | Type is inherited and fixed; condition is acquired and can change |
| Combination skin | Oily central panel with drier cheeks |
| Dehydrated skin | Lacks water — treat with a hydrating product that adds and holds water |
| Skin analysis | After cleansing, under good light, with magnification |
| First step of a facial | Cleansing the skin |
| Facial massage direction | Upward and outward, from the center of the face |
| Effleurage | Light continuous stroking, used at the beginning and end of a facial |
| When massage is avoided | Inflamed skin or open lesions — face, hand or arm alike |
| Sun protection | UV exposure is the largest controllable factor in skin aging |
| Depilation vs epilation | Depilation removes at or above the surface; epilation removes from the follicle |
| Permanent hair removal | Electrolysis only — and it requires its own separate Florida license |
| Chemical depilatory | Dissolves the hair's protein at the skin's surface; patch test before first use |
| Depilatory reaction | Stinging and redness — remove at once and rinse with cool water |
| Threading | Removes hair from the follicle using twisted cotton thread |
| Wax direction | Applied with the growth, removed against it |
| Wax removal | Skin held taut; strip pulled quickly, close and parallel to the surface |
| Hard vs soft wax | Hard wax hardens and lifts off without a fabric strip |
| Wax temperature test | A small amount on the operator's own inner wrist |
| Applicator sticks | Discarded after one application; a fresh stick for the next |
| Minimum hair length | Long enough to be gripped, or it breaks instead of releasing |
| Waxing aftercare | Avoid heat, sun and heavy exercise for about a day |
| Absolute waxing contraindication | Sunburned skin in the area to be treated |
| Prescription topical retinoid | Decline the wax and refer her to her PRESCRIBER |
| First waxing consultation | Medications, recent treatments and skin sensitivities |
| Eyebrow inner edge | In line with the inner corner of the eye |
| Tweezing direction | In the direction of growth, one hair at a time |
| Lipstick hygiene | Scraped onto a palette, applied with a disposable applicator |
| Powder hygiene | Scraped onto a clean palette and applied from there |
| Makeup brushes / tweezers | Cleaned of debris and disinfected between clients |
| Foundation matching | Tested along the jawline in natural light |
| Corrective makeup rule | Highlighter brings forward and enlarges; a darker shade recedes and reduces |
Manicuring and Pedicuring
| Matrix | Produces new nail cells — every plate defect traces back here |
| Lunula | The visible whitish half-moon at the base of the nail |
| Eponychium | Living skin at the base of the nail that seals the matrix — never cut |
| Pterygium | Softened and gently pushed back, never cut |
| What a nipper may trim | Only dead tissue, such as a loose hangnail |
| Fingernail growth time | Approximately four to six months to grow out completely |
| Onychophagy | Bitten nails — may be serviced |
| Onycholysis | Plate separated from the bed at the free edge, no sign of infection |
| Leukonychia | White spots, usually minor trauma to the matrix |
| Horizontal ridges | A past interruption to nail growth at the matrix |
| Refer to a physician | Thickened, discolored, crumbling nail; any infection or inflammation; green under a lifted enhancement |
| Ingrown toenail corner | Never cut it out — decline and refer to a physician or podiatrist |
| Examined before a manicure | The nails AND the surrounding skin, for disorders or infection |
| Manicure order | Remove polish → shape → soak → cuticle care → buff → polish |
| Filing a natural nail | From the outside corner toward the center, in one direction |
| Filing toenails | Straight across, corners left square |
| Base coat / polish strokes | Base coat on the natural nail first; three strokes — center, then each side |
| Pedicure water | Tested by the operator AND confirmed comfortable by the client |
| Pedicure sequence | One foot at a time, the other kept warm in the basin |
| PROHIBITED in Florida — callus | A credo blade or razor-type callus shaver. Use files and abrasives |
| PROHIBITED in enhancements | Methyl methacrylate (MMA) |
| Nail form | A temporary base on which to build a sculpted extension |
| Fill / rebalance | Applying product to the new growth area of a grown-out enhancement |
| Acrylic removal | Soak in the appropriate solvent until the product softens — never pry or clip |
| Cause of lifting | Oil or moisture left on the nail plate before application |
| Electric file risk | Heat and over-filing can thin the plate and damage the bed |
| Metal cuticle pusher | Cleaned of all debris, then immersed in disinfectant |
| Paper-backed file | Discarded after one client — unless it is the client's own, which is returned to her |
| Manicure table | Cleaned and disinfected between clients, with a fresh towel laid down |
| Lotion from a large container | With a clean spatula, or from a pump dispenser |
| Foot spa | Cleaned and disinfected after every client, with a deeper cleaning of screens and jets on a set schedule |
| Nail station ventilation | Monomer vapor and filing dust are inhaled all day by the operator |
| Client with diabetes | Reduced sensation and slower healing make small injuries serious |
| Home care advice | Moisturize regularly and wear gloves for wet or cleaning work |
Florida Laws, Rules and Professional Practice
| Governing law | Ch. 477 F.S. and Ch. 61G5 F.A.C. |
| Regulator | The Board of Cosmetology, within the DBPR |
| Purpose of licensure | To protect the public from unsafe practice |
| Training hours | 1,200 at a licensed cosmetology school |
| Alternative route | A registered apprenticeship equivalent to the hours |
| Minimum age and education | 16 years old, tenth grade completed or equivalent — no diploma required |
| Licensed elsewhere | Licensure by endorsement, with its own requirements; nothing transfers automatically |
| Hours completed, not yet licensed | May not practice for compensation. No grace period |
| Inside scope | Relaxers, permanent waving, color, waxing, nail enhancements |
| Outside scope, always | Removing any growth; diagnosing or treating skin, scalp or nail conditions |
| Electrolysis | Requires its own separate Florida license — never authorized by a cosmetology license |
| Specialty registrations | Nails, facials, full specialist — separate credentials, each limited to its own scope |
| Supervision | Does not extend anyone's scope, and does not substitute for a license |
| Client health information | Recorded because it changes what is safe, and kept confidential |
| Correct response to a suspected condition | Explain it needs a physician, decline to advise, do not service the area until cleared |
| Salon license | Separate from every individual license; a pending application is not a license |
| Working in an unlicensed salon | Both the salon and the licensee are in violation |
| Salon facility requirements | Hot and cold running water and adequate sanitation facilities |
| NOT facility requirements | A minimum chair count; a separate entrance; particular staffing levels |
| What an inspection covers | Salon license, displayed individual licenses, sanitation and disinfection, equipment and facilities |
| Inspection notice | Generally unannounced, and not limited to filed complaints |
| Station sanitation responsibility | The licensee working at that station, disciplined personally |
| Disciplinary powers | Fines, probation, suspension or revocation — scaled to the violation |
| Transferability | A license is personal and cannot be lent, shared or transferred |
| Misleading advertising | Claiming a credential you do not hold — a disclaimer and staying in scope cure nothing |
| Where a complaint goes | The state department that regulates the profession — not the owner, not the manufacturer |
| License display | Conspicuously at the work station — a client should not have to ask |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial — two years |
| Continuing education | 16 hours per biennium, subjects set by rule in Ch. 61G5 — confirm the current requirement |
| Change of address | The department must be notified, for any move. No new license required |
| Expired license | Does not authorize practice. A submitted renewal is not a license; a missed notice is no excuse |