New Mexico Cosmetology Practice Exam

What should a cosmetologist assess before hair coloring a client?

1. Client's hair product preferences

2. Hair length and style

3. Skin tone and natural hair color

4. Client’s daily routine

The correct answer is: Skin tone and natural hair color

Before coloring a client’s hair, assessing the skin tone and natural hair color is crucial for several reasons. Understanding the client's skin tone allows the cosmetologist to select a hair color that complements the client's overall appearance, enhancing their features and ensuring a harmonious look. This consideration helps in avoiding colors that may clash with the client's complexion, which can result in an unflattering outcome. Additionally, evaluating the client’s natural hair color is important because it provides a baseline for how the new color will appear once applied. It helps in determining the correct formulation to achieve the desired result, particularly when dealing with color alterations, highlights, or coverage of gray hair. By combining these assessments, the cosmetologist can create a personalized hair coloring plan that meets the client's expectations and maintains the integrity of the hair.