NIC National Cosmetology Theory Exam — Practice Exam
Chemical texture services: practice questions
Our NIC Cosmetology Theory bank has 23 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
Hydroxide relaxers work by:
- Neutralizing the hair's pH to 7
- Adding moisture to hydrogen bonds
- Breaking disulfide bonds through lanthionization
- Coating the hair with silicone
Show the answer
C. Breaking disulfide bonds through lanthionization — They have a very high pH (around 12–14).
Question 2
What is an acid-balanced (acid) wave?
- A temporary styling product
- A perm with no reducing agent that relies only on heat and rollers to curl the hair
- A relaxer for coarse hair
- A perm with a lower pH, often using glyceryl monothioglycolate, gentler on hair
Show the answer
D. A perm with a lower pH, often using glyceryl monothioglycolate, gentler on hair — Acid waves usually need heat.
Question 3
In a croquignole perm wrap, the hair is wound:
- With no tension at all
- From the ends toward the scalp
- Around a single large rod at the crown
- From the scalp toward the ends in a spiral
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B. From the ends toward the scalp — Spiral wraps wind along the length at an angle.
Question 4
What does the neutralizer do in a thio perm?
- Adds color
- Raises the hair's pH
- Rebuilds the disulfide bonds in their new shape by oxidation
- Breaks more disulfide bonds so the curl forms faster
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C. Rebuilds the disulfide bonds in their new shape by oxidation — Neutralizers are usually hydrogen peroxide.
Question 5
What is a curl re-formation (soft curl permanent)?
- A temporary curl set made with hot rollers and setting lotion on dry hair
- Relaxing very curly hair with thio, then wrapping it on large rods to form looser curls
- A keratin smoothing treatment
- A hydroxide relaxer service
Show the answer
B. Relaxing very curly hair with thio, then wrapping it on large rods to form looser curls — Thio-based; never over hydroxide-relaxed hair.