332A Hair Colouring Theory and Application 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What are the three primary colours in hair colour theory?
- Red, orange, yellow
- Red, blue, yellow (Correct answer)
- Red, green, blue
- Blue, orange, violet
Correct answer: Red, blue, yellow
The three primary colours are red, blue, and yellow. They cannot be created by mixing other colours and are the foundation of all colour theory used in hair colouring.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a developer (hydrogen peroxide) in permanent hair colour?
- To condition the hair after colouring
- To open the cuticle and activate the oxidation process that develops colour (Correct answer)
- To remove all natural pigment
- To close the cuticle after processing
Correct answer: To open the cuticle and activate the oxidation process that develops colour
Developer (hydrogen peroxide) serves two purposes: it opens the cuticle to allow colour penetration into the cortex, and it activates the oxidation process that develops the colour molecules and lightens natural melanin.
Question 3: What volume of developer is most commonly used for standard grey coverage with permanent colour?
- 10 volume (3%)
- 20 volume (6%) (Correct answer)
- 30 volume (9%)
- 40 volume (12%)
Correct answer: 20 volume (6%)
20 volume (6%) developer is the standard choice for permanent colour applications providing grey coverage. It lifts natural colour by approximately 1-2 levels and provides sufficient opening of the cuticle for deposit.
Question 4: What does the 'level' system in hair colour refer to?
- The intensity of the tone
- The degree of lightness or darkness of a colour (Correct answer)
- The type of developer used
- The percentage of grey coverage
Correct answer: The degree of lightness or darkness of a colour
The level system measures the degree of lightness or darkness of a hair colour on a scale from 1 (black, darkest) to 10 (lightest blonde). It is independent of the tone or hue of the colour.
Question 5: What are contributing pigments (also called undertones)?
- Pigments added by the colourist during application
- The natural warm pigments revealed when hair is lightened (Correct answer)
- The cool tones in permanent hair colour
- Pigments found only in artificial hair colour
Correct answer: The natural warm pigments revealed when hair is lightened
Contributing pigments are the natural underlying warm pigments (eumelanin and pheomelanin) that are exposed when natural hair colour is lightened. They progress from red (at darker levels) through orange to yellow (at lighter levels).
Question 6: What is a patch test and when should it be performed?
- A test of the colour on a hair swatch, done during application
- A skin allergy test done 24-48 hours before a colour service to check for adverse reactions (Correct answer)
- A test to check hair porosity, done at the shampoo bowl
- A test of the developer strength, done at the mixing station
Correct answer: A skin allergy test done 24-48 hours before a colour service to check for adverse reactions
A patch test (predisposition test) is a small application of colour mixture applied to the skin, usually behind the ear or inner elbow, 24-48 hours before service. It identifies potential allergic reactions to colour ingredients, particularly PPD.
332A Hair Colouring Theory and Application 1
What are the three primary colours in hair colour theory?