Technical Reading and Recall 1 Flashcards

A technical insert states that a toner should remain on hair 'no longer than 20 minutes at room temperature.' What does the phrase 'room temperature' specify in this context?

Answer: The service should be performed without applying additional heat sources

In technical product literature, 'room temperature' means no supplemental heat (dryer, lamp, or heat cap) should be applied; the product works through ambient warmth alone.

A cosmetology textbook states that a permanent wave solution 'breaks disulfide bonds.' What does the term 'disulfide bonds' refer to?

Answer: Chemical links between sulfur atoms that give hair its natural shape

Disulfide bonds are sulfur-to-sulfur chemical links within the cortex that determine hair's natural curl pattern; permanent wave solution chemically reduces these bonds to allow reshaping.

A product directions sheet states to perform a '24-hour patch test prior to any oxidative color service.' What is the primary reason the instructions specify 24 hours?

Answer: To allow sufficient time for an allergic reaction to develop and become visible

Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions to oxidative dye ingredients such as p-phenylenediamine can take up to 24–48 hours to manifest, so the patch test window must be long enough to detect a reaction before service.

A technical reference describes a chemical service as 'exothermic.' According to standard terminology, what does exothermic mean?

Answer: The chemical reaction releases heat as it processes

Exothermic describes a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat; in cosmetology this is important because the generated heat can affect processing time and scalp safety.

A label on a scalp conditioner reads 'for external use only.' In technical language, what does this instruction communicate to the practitioner?

Answer: The product must not be ingested, inhaled directly, or introduced inside the body

The phrase 'external use only' is a standard safety directive meaning the product is designed to contact the outer body surface and must not be swallowed, inhaled, or applied to mucous membranes or open wounds.

A technical manual states that semi-permanent color 'does not contain a developer and deposits pigment only.' What can a practitioner conclude from this statement?

Answer: Semi-permanent color cannot lighten the hair because no oxidation occurs

Because semi-permanent color contains no developer (hydrogen peroxide), no oxidative reaction takes place; without oxidation the natural melanin cannot be lightened, so the color only adds tone without altering base depth.