Cosmetology Test Nail Care and Services 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the hyponychium and why is it significant during nail services?
- The skin fold at the base of the nail; it protects the matrix
- The skin under the free edge; it seals the nail bed from bacteria (Correct answer)
- The half-moon shape at the base of the nail plate
- The thin membrane that connects the nail plate to the bed
Correct answer: The skin under the free edge; it seals the nail bed from bacteria
The hyponychium is the protective seal of skin beneath the free edge of the nail that prevents pathogens from entering under the nail plate.
Question 2: Which curing light wavelength is most effective for polymerizing gel nail products?
- Infrared (IR) light
- Ultraviolet (UV) / LED light at 365–405 nm (Correct answer)
- Visible blue light at 600–700 nm
- UVC light at 200–280 nm
Correct answer: Ultraviolet (UV) / LED light at 365–405 nm
Gel photoinitiators are activated by UV/LED light in the 365–405 nanometer range, triggering polymerization of the gel product.
Question 3: What is 'pterygium' in nail terminology?
- A fungal infection of the nail plate
- Forward growth of the cuticle onto the nail plate (Correct answer)
- A horizontal ridge across the nail
- Thickening of the nail plate
Correct answer: Forward growth of the cuticle onto the nail plate
Pterygium is the abnormal overgrowth of the cuticle (or in toenails, the nail bed skin) forward onto the nail plate surface.
Question 4: When performing a paraffin wax treatment on hands during a manicure, the wax temperature should be maintained at approximately:
- 115°F – 125°F (46°C – 52°C) (Correct answer)
- 130°F – 140°F (54°C – 60°C)
- 95°F – 100°F (35°C – 38°C)
- 150°F – 160°F (66°C – 71°C)
Correct answer: 115°F – 125°F (46°C – 52°C)
Paraffin wax for hand treatments is kept at 115–125°F to be warm enough to open pores and moisturize without risking burns.
Question 5: What type of nail enhancement system uses a two-part system of liquid monomer and powder polymer?
- Hard gel system
- Dip powder (SNS) system
- Acrylic (liquid and powder) system (Correct answer)
- Polygel system
Correct answer: Acrylic (liquid and powder) system
The acrylic system combines a liquid monomer with a powder polymer; they polymerize when mixed, creating a hard, durable nail enhancement.
Question 6: Which nail disorder is characterized by an abnormal thickening and overgrowth of the nail plate?
- Onychatrophia
- Onychauxis (Correct answer)
- Onychoptosis
- Onychorrhexis
Correct answer: Onychauxis
Onychauxis is the hypertrophy (overgrowth and thickening) of the nail plate, often caused by internal disorders, injury, or local irritation.
Question 7: What is the safe and recommended method to remove hard gel nail enhancements?
- Soak in acetone for 15–20 minutes
- File off the bulk with an e-file, then carefully file the remaining product by hand (Correct answer)
- Peel or pry off from the cuticle edge
- Soak in non-acetone remover overnight
Correct answer: File off the bulk with an e-file, then carefully file the remaining product by hand
Hard gel does not dissolve in acetone, so it must be filed off using an e-file to remove bulk product and hand filing for the final layer near the natural nail.
Cosmetology Test Nail Care and Services 5
What is the hyponychium and why is it significant during nail services?