Hair Structure and Chemistry Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Question 1

What is the primary structural protein found in hair?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Melanin

Answer

Lipids

Answer

Polysaccharides

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a type of hair cortex?

Accepted Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Orthocortex

Answer

Paracortex

Answer

Metacortex

Question 3

Which type of bond in hair is primarily responsible for its strength and elasticity?

Accepted Answer

Disulfide bonds

Answer

Hydrogen bonds

Answer

Salt bridges

Answer

Van der Waals forces

Question 4

Which phase of the hair growth cycle is characterized by active hair growth?

Accepted Answer

Anagen

Answer

Catagen

Answer

Telogen

Answer

Exogen

Question 5

What is the primary function of the cuticle layer of hair?

Accepted Answer

Protects against mechanical damage

Answer

Maintains moisture levels

Answer

Provides hair with its color

Answer

Regulates hair growth

Question 6

Which hair type is generally described as fine, straight, and lacking in pigment?

Accepted Answer

Type 1 hair

Answer

Type 2 hair

Answer

Type 3 hair

Answer

Type 4 hair

Question 7

Which chemical treatment is commonly used to permanently straighten hair?

Accepted Answer

Relaxer

Answer

Perm

Answer

Coloring

Answer

Bleaching

Question 8

What is the primary role of the medulla in hair?

Accepted Answer

Insulates the hair shaft

Answer

Provides structural support

Answer

Protects against UV damage

Answer

Stores hair pigments

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a primary component of hair's structure?

Accepted Answer

Lipids

Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Medulla

Question 10

The outermost layer of the hair shaft, made of tightly packed scales, is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Medulla

Answer

Matrix

Question 11

The innermost layer of the hair shaft, containing air pockets and pigment granules, is called the:

Accepted Answer

Medulla

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Matrix

Question 12

Which of the following chemical bonds is responsible for hair's strength and elasticity?

Accepted Answer

Disulfide bonds

Answer

Ionic bonds

Answer

Hydrogen bonds

Answer

Covalent bonds

Question 13

The process of chemically altering hair structure to create curls or waves is known as:

Accepted Answer

Perming

Answer

Coloring

Answer

Bleaching

Answer

Relaxing

Question 14

The process by which hair absorbs and retains moisture is called:

Accepted Answer

Capillary action

Answer

Porosity

Answer

Elasticity

Answer

Strength

Question 15

Which of the following hair types is characterized by coarse, curly strands and high porosity?

Accepted Answer

African American

Answer

Asian

Answer

Caucasian

Answer

Hispanic

Question 16

The process of removing natural pigment from hair to prepare for coloring is called:

Accepted Answer

Bleaching

Answer

Highlighting

Answer

Toning

Answer

Lowlighting

Question 17

What type of protein is responsible for giving hair its strength and structure?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Elastin

Answer

Collagen

Answer

Fibrin

Question 18

Which part of the hair follicle is where hair growth occurs?

Accepted Answer

Matrix

Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Medulla

Question 19

Which chemical treatment can permanently alter the shape of hair?

Accepted Answer

Perm

Answer

Relaxer

Answer

Coloring

Answer

Conditioning

Question 20

What is the primary component of the hair cuticle?

Accepted Answer

Keratin scales

Answer

Lipid layers

Answer

Air pockets

Answer

Melanin granules

Question 21

Which hair type is characterized by fine, delicate strands and a lack of volume?

Accepted Answer

Type 1

Answer

Type 2

Answer

Type 3

Answer

Type 4

Question 22

What is the primary function of the medulla in hair structure?

Accepted Answer

Containing air pockets

Answer

Providing strength and durability

Answer

Determining hair color

Answer

Protecting the inner hair shaft

Question 23

What chemical reaction occurs when hair is bleached?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Reduction

Answer

Neutralization

Question 24

**Describe the three stages of the hair growth cycle (anagen, catagen, and telogen). Explain the key characteristics and significance of each stage for hair care practices.**

Accepted Answer

**Anagen (Active Growth Phase):** This stage involves rapid hair growth and lasts for 2-7 years. It's crucial for hair care as hair is most responsive to treatments and styling during this time.

Accepted Answer

**Catagen (Transitional Phase):** Lasting 2-3 weeks, catagen marks the end of active growth. The hair follicle shrinks, and the hair shaft is pushed upward.

Accepted Answer

**Telogen (Resting Phase):** This final stage lasts 3-4 months and involves the hair follicle remaining dormant. The hair shaft is fully formed and gradually detaches from the scalp.

Question 25

Which statement accurately describes the impact of hair porosity on hair treatments?

Accepted Answer

High porosity hair absorbs treatments more easily than low porosity hair.

Answer

Low porosity hair needs fewer treatments than high porosity hair.

Answer

Hair porosity does not affect the effectiveness of hair treatments.

Answer

All hair types have the same level of porosity.

Question 26

What is a common sign of mechanical damage to hair?

Accepted Answer

Split ends and breakage

Answer

Hair loss

Answer

Color fading

Answer

Increased hair porosity

Question 27

What is the main function of the natural oils in your hair?

Accepted Answer

Keeping hair moisturized

Answer

Strengthening hair shafts

Answer

Boosting hair growth

Answer

Shielding hair from the sun

Question 28

What is the term for the protective layer surrounding the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Medulla

Answer

Root sheath

Question 29

Which stage of the hair growth cycle involves active hair growth?

Accepted Answer

Anagen

Answer

Catagen

Answer

Telogen

Answer

Exogen

Question 30

Which type of chemical bond contributes to hair's shape and strength?

Accepted Answer

Disulfide bond

Answer

Hydrogen bond

Answer

Ionic bond

Answer

Covalent bond

Question 31

Which protein constitutes the majority of the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Collagen

Answer

Elastin

Answer

Myosin

Question 32

Which tool is used to determine hair porosity?

Accepted Answer

Porometer

Answer

Micrometer

Answer

Calipers

Answer

Ruler

Question 33

What is the name of the outermost layer of the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Medulla

Answer

Root sheath

Question 34

How does hair porosity influence the absorption and retention of hair care products?

Accepted Answer

Low porosity hair absorbs products slowly but retains them well.

Accepted Answer

High porosity hair absorbs products quickly but loses them easily.

Answer

Hair porosity has no impact on product absorption or retention.

Answer

Low porosity hair absorbs products quickly but loses them easily.

Question 35

Which of the following best describes the cuticle layer of the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

A smooth and protective outermost layer consisting of overlapping scales

Answer

Responsible for hair's elasticity and tensile strength

Answer

Contains pigment cells that determine hair color

Answer

Composed of a seamless, impenetrable layer

Question 36

Which protein is most abundant in the hair's cortex?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Collagen

Answer

Elastin

Answer

Melanin

Question 37

Which factor does NOT significantly influence hair growth?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight exposure

Answer

Genetics

Answer

Hormones

Answer

Hair care practices

Question 38

What chemical process is involved in hair bleaching?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Reduction

Answer

Polymerization

Answer

Hydrolysis

Question 39

Which hair type is typically characterized by fine, straight strands?

Accepted Answer

Type 1

Answer

Type 2a

Answer

Type 3b

Answer

Type 4c

Question 40

What is the main purpose of using a hair conditioner?

Accepted Answer

To restore moisture, smooth the cuticle, and improve manageability

Answer

To cleanse the hair and remove dirt and oil

Answer

To add volume and lift to the hair

Answer

To protect hair from heat styling and environmental damage

Question 41

What is the primary function of the medulla in the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

Plays no significant role in hair structure or function

Answer

Contains pigment cells that determine hair color

Answer

Provides strength and elasticity to the hair

Answer

Regulates moisture retention

Question 42

The primary protein found in hair is:

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Myosin

Answer

Elastin

Answer

Collagen

Question 43

The outermost layer of hair, composed of flat, overlapping cells, is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Medulla

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Bulb

Question 44

Which layer of the hair fiber provides strength and elasticity?

Accepted Answer

Cortex

Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Medulla

Question 45

The innermost layer of the hair shaft, containing air pockets, is called the:

Accepted Answer

Medulla

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Cuticle

Answer

Follicle

Question 46

Which chemical bond is responsible for giving hair its shape and structure?

Accepted Answer

Disulfide bond

Answer

Hydrogen bond

Answer

Covalent bond

Answer

Ionic bond

Question 47

The chemical process that involves altering the disulfide bonds in hair is:

Accepted Answer

Perming

Answer

Bleaching

Answer

Straightening

Answer

Coloring

Question 48

Which specialized cells are responsible for producing hair?

Accepted Answer

Keratinocytes

Answer

Melanocytes

Answer

Fibroblasts

Answer

Osteocytes

Question 49

Which protein is the main structural component of hair?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Answer

Glycogen

Answer

Elastin

Answer

Collagen

Question 50

Which phase of the hair growth cycle describes the active growth of the hair shaft?

Accepted Answer

Anagen phase

Answer

Catagen phase

Answer

Exogen phase

Answer

Telogen phase

Question 51

Which chemical process weakens the disulfide bonds in hair, allowing it to be reshaped or styled?

Accepted Answer

Reduction

Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Hydrolysis

Answer

Neutralization

Question 52

What is the pigment responsible for giving hair its color called?

Accepted Answer

Melanin

Answer

Chlorophyll

Answer

Carotene

Answer

Hemoglobin

Question 53

Which part of the hair shaft contains air pockets, giving hair its insulating properties?

Accepted Answer

Medulla

Answer

Root

Answer

Cortex

Answer

Cuticle

Question 54

What is the primary function of the sebaceous glands in relation to hair?

Accepted Answer

Produce sebum to lubricate the hair shaft and scalp

Answer

Regulate hair color

Answer

Provide nutrients to the hair follicle

Answer

Control hair growth