NIC National Cosmetology Theory Exam — Practice Exam
Anatomy: hair: practice questions
Our NIC Cosmetology Theory bank has 18 questions on this topic. Here are 4 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
Which bonds are broken by permanent waving and hydroxide relaxers?
- Salt bonds only
- Hydrogen bonds
- Peptide end bonds only
- Disulfide bonds
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D. Disulfide bonds — Disulfide (cystine) bonds give hair its shape and need chemical services to change.
Question 2
Which layer of the hair shaft gives hair most of its strength and elasticity and holds its natural pigment?
- Cuticle
- Medulla
- Cortex
- Follicle
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C. Cortex — The cortex is the bulk of the fiber; the cuticle protects it; the medulla may be absent in fine hair.
Question 3
Which protein makes up most of the hair, skin's outer layer and nails?
- Keratin
- Melanin
- Elastin
- Collagen
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A. Keratin — Hair and nails are hardened keratin.
Question 4
What is the resting phase of the hair growth cycle?
- Keratinization
- Anagen
- Catagen
- Telogen
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D. Telogen — Telogen hairs are eventually shed and replaced.