FCTC Test Technical Reading and Recall Questions and Answers Flashcards

When reading a product label that states 'apply to towel-dried hair,' what does 'towel-dried' mean in a technical context?

Answer: Hair that has had excess water removed but is still slightly damp

Towel-dried hair means excess water has been blotted away so the hair is damp but not dripping wet.

A technical manual states a chemical relaxer has a pH of 12–14. What does this indicate about the product?

Answer: It is strongly alkaline and will swell and soften the hair

A pH of 12–14 is strongly alkaline, which causes the hair's cuticle to swell and soften the cortex for chemical processing.

According to standard cosmetology references, what is the purpose of a strand test performed before a chemical service?

Answer: To assess how the hair will respond to the chemical before full application

A strand test evaluates the hair's reaction to a chemical service so the technician can adjust timing or formulation if needed.

A technical passage states that hydrogen peroxide developer is available in volumes 10, 20, 30, and 40. What does the 'volume' measure?

Answer: The amount of oxygen released during processing

Developer volume indicates the amount of oxygen released; higher volumes release more oxygen and provide greater lifting action.

When a product instruction reads 'do not exceed the processing time,' what is the primary risk of over-processing chemically treated hair?

Answer: The hair will become over-porous, weak, and prone to breakage

Over-processing breaks down too much of the hair's protein structure, resulting in over-porous, weak, and damaged hair.

A technical reading passage describes the 'cuticle' layer of the hair. Which statement best recalls the cuticle's function?

Answer: It is the outermost protective layer that controls moisture and porosity

The cuticle is the hair's outermost layer, made of overlapping scales that protect the inner cortex and regulate moisture absorption.