Milady Cosmetology Haircolor and Lightening Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with level 7 hair wants to go to a level 4, but their hair was previously lightened to a level 9. To achieve the target color and avoid a muddy, greenish result, what essential product must be used?
- A clarifying shampoo
- A color filler (Correct answer)
- A high-lift tint
- A blue-based toner
Correct answer: A color filler
When taking pre-lightened hair three or more levels darker, the underlying warm pigments that were removed during the lightening process must be replaced. A color filler is used to re-deposit this missing pigment, creating an even base for the new, darker color and preventing undesirable cool or muddy tones like green.
Question 2: During a lightening service, the client's hair reveals strong, unwanted orange tones. According to the law of color, which color toner should be used to neutralize this brassiness?
- Green
- Violet
- Blue (Correct answer)
- Red
Correct answer: Blue
The law of color states that complementary colors, which are opposite each other on the color wheel, neutralize one another. Blue is directly opposite orange, so a blue-based toner will effectively cancel out unwanted orange or brassy tones in the hair.
Question 3: Which of the following hair color types does NOT require a developer and works by coating the hair's cuticle with large pigment molecules that wash out after several shampoos?
- Permanent
- Demi-permanent
- Semi-permanent (Correct answer)
- High-lift
Correct answer: Semi-permanent
Semi-permanent hair color is a non-oxidative color, meaning it is not mixed with a developer (hydrogen peroxide). Its large color molecules only coat the outer layer (cuticle) of the hair shaft and do not penetrate the cortex. This is why it gradually fades and washes out over several shampoos.
Question 4: A stylist is working with a client who has highly porous hair due to previous chemical services. How will the hair's porosity likely affect the processing of a new color application?
- The hair will be resistant and take longer to absorb the color.
- The color will absorb quickly but may also fade faster. (Correct answer)
- The color will not penetrate the cuticle layer at all.
- The processing time will be the same as for hair with normal porosity.
Correct answer: The color will absorb quickly but may also fade faster.
Highly porous hair has a raised or damaged cuticle layer, which allows it to absorb color very quickly. However, this same condition makes it difficult for the hair to retain pigment, often leading to the color fading more rapidly than it would on hair with normal or low porosity.
Question 5: What is the primary function of hydrogen peroxide when mixed with an oxidative hair color, such as a permanent tint?
- To condition the hair shaft
- To act as a catalyst and developer (Correct answer)
- To seal the cuticle after color application
- To add a temporary shine to the hair
Correct answer: To act as a catalyst and developer
Hydrogen peroxide acts as the developer or oxidizing agent. When mixed with an alkalizing agent in the hair color, it breaks down the natural hair pigment (melanin) and develops the new artificial color molecules, allowing them to penetrate the cortex.
Question 6: The level system in hair color is used to identify the:
- predominant tone of the color.
- percentage of gray hair.
- lightness or darkness of a color. (Correct answer)
- manufacturer of the color line.
Correct answer: lightness or darkness of a color.
The level system is a universal scale used by colorists to measure the lightness or darkness of a hair color. The scale typically ranges from 1 (Black) to 10 (Lightest Blonde).
Milady Cosmetology Haircolor and Lightening Questions and Answers
A client with level 7 hair wants to go to a level 4, but their hair was previously lightened to a level 9.
To achieve the target color and avoid a muddy, greenish result, what essential product must be used?