PSI Cosmetology Theory Exam questions & with
correct answers
Soft Water/ Rain water - Correct Answer - Best for shampooing and allows shampoo to lather freely
Hard Water - Correct Answer - Minerals that lessen the ability of the shampoo to lather
Purified water/Deionized water - Correct Answer - Main ingredient in shampoo
Surfactant - Correct Answer - has two ends the HYDROPHILIC HEAD and LIPOPHILIC TAIL
Hydrophilic Head - Correct Answer - Attracted to water
Lipophilic Tail - Correct Answer - Attracted to dirts and oils
Acid Balanced Shampoo - Correct Answer - pH of 4.5-5.5
Jheri Redding - Correct Answer - first to introduce pH balanced shampoo in the 1960s
Clarifying Shampoo - Correct Answer - acidic base to cut through buildup on the hair strand
Humectants - Correct Answer - Most conditioners carry this. Promote retention of moisture
Instant conditioners - Correct Answer - remain on the hair 1-5 minutes
Protein Conditoners - Correct Answer - brown liquids and penetrate into the cortex to temporarily
improve porosity and increase elasticity
Infraed Lamps - Correct Answer - may be used with hair treatments and scalp tonics for 5 minutes
High Frequency Unit - Correct Answer - used to normalize oily scalp conditioners! Also never should be
used with tonics that contain alcohol
Base Control - Correct Answer - position of the rod in relation to its base section
croquignole perm wrap - Correct Answer - wrapped perpendicular to the scalp starting with the ends
Spiral Perm Wrap - Correct Answer - Wound from the ends to scalp and rods hang vertical
Concave Rods - Correct Answer - most common and have a smaller center circumference
, Straight Rods - Correct Answer - uniform circumference
Alkaline Permanent - Correct Answer - softens and swell the hair which raises the cuticle. Developed in
1941
Ammonium Thioglycolate (ATG) - Correct Answer - main ingredient or reducing agent in alkaline perms
Alkaline Waves ( COLD WAVES) - Correct Answer - process at room temp
Acid Perms - Correct Answer - Main ingredient is glyceryl monothioglycolate (GMTG)
Exothermic perms - Correct Answer - reaction that causes heat. contains hydrogen peroxide
Endothermic Perms - Correct Answer - activated by outside heat source. True Acid perms are
endothermic
Disulfide Bonds - Correct Answer - if too many are broken the hair will become over processed and have
a weak curl
What is the main ingredient in a neutralizer - Correct Answer - Hydrogen Peroxide
Do not shampoo hair - Correct Answer - 48 hours after a perm
Cuticle - Correct Answer - outer most layer of the hair
Cortex - Correct Answer - middle layer of the hair where all chemical processes take place
Melanin - Correct Answer - Natural pigment located in the cortex
Peptide Bonds - Correct Answer - called end bonds link together to form polypeptide chains. Should not
be broken.
What are the three side bonds? - Correct Answer - Disulfide, Salt,Hydrogen, Side/Cross
Disulfide Bonds - Correct Answer - strognest. Must be broken when perming or relaxing the hair
Salt bonds - Correct Answer - Weak physical side bonds that are easily broken by changes in pH
Hydrogen Bonds - Correct Answer - broken by water or heat
EX: Wet Set
Hair Texture - Correct Answer - Diameter of a single strand
Hair Density - Correct Answer - number of strands of hair are on the head
Hair Porosity - Correct Answer - Absorb mositure
correct answers
Soft Water/ Rain water - Correct Answer - Best for shampooing and allows shampoo to lather freely
Hard Water - Correct Answer - Minerals that lessen the ability of the shampoo to lather
Purified water/Deionized water - Correct Answer - Main ingredient in shampoo
Surfactant - Correct Answer - has two ends the HYDROPHILIC HEAD and LIPOPHILIC TAIL
Hydrophilic Head - Correct Answer - Attracted to water
Lipophilic Tail - Correct Answer - Attracted to dirts and oils
Acid Balanced Shampoo - Correct Answer - pH of 4.5-5.5
Jheri Redding - Correct Answer - first to introduce pH balanced shampoo in the 1960s
Clarifying Shampoo - Correct Answer - acidic base to cut through buildup on the hair strand
Humectants - Correct Answer - Most conditioners carry this. Promote retention of moisture
Instant conditioners - Correct Answer - remain on the hair 1-5 minutes
Protein Conditoners - Correct Answer - brown liquids and penetrate into the cortex to temporarily
improve porosity and increase elasticity
Infraed Lamps - Correct Answer - may be used with hair treatments and scalp tonics for 5 minutes
High Frequency Unit - Correct Answer - used to normalize oily scalp conditioners! Also never should be
used with tonics that contain alcohol
Base Control - Correct Answer - position of the rod in relation to its base section
croquignole perm wrap - Correct Answer - wrapped perpendicular to the scalp starting with the ends
Spiral Perm Wrap - Correct Answer - Wound from the ends to scalp and rods hang vertical
Concave Rods - Correct Answer - most common and have a smaller center circumference
, Straight Rods - Correct Answer - uniform circumference
Alkaline Permanent - Correct Answer - softens and swell the hair which raises the cuticle. Developed in
1941
Ammonium Thioglycolate (ATG) - Correct Answer - main ingredient or reducing agent in alkaline perms
Alkaline Waves ( COLD WAVES) - Correct Answer - process at room temp
Acid Perms - Correct Answer - Main ingredient is glyceryl monothioglycolate (GMTG)
Exothermic perms - Correct Answer - reaction that causes heat. contains hydrogen peroxide
Endothermic Perms - Correct Answer - activated by outside heat source. True Acid perms are
endothermic
Disulfide Bonds - Correct Answer - if too many are broken the hair will become over processed and have
a weak curl
What is the main ingredient in a neutralizer - Correct Answer - Hydrogen Peroxide
Do not shampoo hair - Correct Answer - 48 hours after a perm
Cuticle - Correct Answer - outer most layer of the hair
Cortex - Correct Answer - middle layer of the hair where all chemical processes take place
Melanin - Correct Answer - Natural pigment located in the cortex
Peptide Bonds - Correct Answer - called end bonds link together to form polypeptide chains. Should not
be broken.
What are the three side bonds? - Correct Answer - Disulfide, Salt,Hydrogen, Side/Cross
Disulfide Bonds - Correct Answer - strognest. Must be broken when perming or relaxing the hair
Salt bonds - Correct Answer - Weak physical side bonds that are easily broken by changes in pH
Hydrogen Bonds - Correct Answer - broken by water or heat
EX: Wet Set
Hair Texture - Correct Answer - Diameter of a single strand
Hair Density - Correct Answer - number of strands of hair are on the head
Hair Porosity - Correct Answer - Absorb mositure
