Five free practice questions on wigs, extensions and waxing: block G of the Red Seal 332A Hairstylist exam, about 6 of its 120 questions. They are in the exam's format: four options, one correct answer. Answer each one before opening the explanation. No account, no email.
01The questions
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A client asks to have her hairpiece coloured a deeper brown. The piece is made of standard synthetic fibre. What should the hairstylist do?
- Apply lightener first so the new colour can grab evenly.
- Explain that colour will not develop on synthetic fibre and suggest a pre-coloured piece.
- Use permanent colour with 20-volume (6%) developer so it penetrates the fibre.
- Pre-soften the fibre with waving solution before applying the colour.
Show the answer
B. Correct. Whether an addition can be coloured is determined by fibre type. Synthetic fibre has no cortex or natural pigment for oxidative colour to develop in, so salon haircolour cannot deepen it — the practical route is a piece manufactured in the desired shade. Human hair additions, by contrast, can be coloured.
Why not the others
A. Lightener oxidizes natural melanin, which synthetic fibre does not contain; it can damage the fibre without lifting anything. The determination to make first is fibre type — synthetic cannot be recoloured with salon products.
C. Developer strength cannot fix a fibre problem: there is no cortex to penetrate and no melanin to act on, so the mixture just coats and dulls the plastic fibre. Colouring is determined by fibre type first.
D. Waving solution works on the disulfide bonds of keratin — synthetic fibre has none, and solvents can distort or ruin it. No chemical pre-treatment makes synthetic fibre colourable.
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A nape waxing service is complete; some wax residue remains and the skin is slightly red. What should the hairstylist apply?
- An exfoliating scrub to lift the residue off the skin.
- Nothing — leave the area alone so the residue wears away on its own.
- Hot towels and brisk massage until the redness fades.
- Wax-removal oil for the residue, then a cooling gel to soothe the skin.
Show the answer
D. Correct. Finishing products complete the service: a wax-removal oil dissolves leftover residue without scrubbing, and a soothing finishing product such as a cooling gel or lotion calms the mild redness that normally follows hair removal. Apply per the manufacturer's directions.
Why not the others
A. Freshly waxed skin is already stressed; abrasives aggravate it. Exfoliation belongs to home care days later — immediately after the service, residue comes off with wax-removal oil and the skin gets a soothing product.
B. Skipping finishing products leaves the client sticky and the irritated skin unsoothed, and residue attracts lint and debris. Completing the service means removing residue and applying a calming finishing product.
C. Heat and friction add irritation to skin whose follicles are freshly emptied — redness worsens. The area is treated gently: residue removed with oil, then cooled and calmed.
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A client returns to the salon to have keratin fusion extensions taken out. How should the hairstylist remove the bonds?
- Cut the natural hair just above each bond to make the service faster.
- Slide each bond down and off the strand with firm, steady pulling toward the ends.
- Soak the bonds with hot water until the keratin softens enough to slip off.
- Soften each bond with the manufacturer's release solution, then gently ease it off.
Show the answer
D. Correct. The removal method matches the attachment type: fusion bonds are broken down with the manufacturer's bond-release product, crushed or loosened gently, and slid off so the natural hair and scalp are left undamaged. Follow the product's directions for timing and technique.
Why not the others
A. Cutting above the bonds sacrifices the client's own length — exactly the damage removal is supposed to avoid. Speed never justifies cutting attachment points out; use the release solvent.
B. Pulling an intact keratin bond drags it against the cuticle and tears natural hair out with it. The bond must be chemically softened with the release product before anything slides.
C. Keratin bonds are formulated to survive washing, so hot water will not release them — it just prolongs and frustrates the attempt. The manufacturer's bond-release solution is what breaks them down.
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A hairstylist is mixing an oxidative colour to cover grey in a client's moustache and beard. Which developer strength is appropriate?
- 20-volume (6%)
- 40-volume (12%)
- 5- to 10-volume (1.5-3%)
- 30-volume (9%)
Show the answer
C. Correct. Facial-hair colouring is a deposit-only service — the goal is coverage and tone, not lift — so low-volume developer is used. It develops the colour while minimizing irritation on facial skin, which sits directly under the product.
Why not the others
A. 20-volume gives about one level of lift — more oxidizing power than a deposit-only facial service needs, and harsher on facial skin. Facial-hair work stays at 5 to 10 volume.
B. 40-volume is maximum-lift developer and the most irritating — never appropriate against facial skin for a deposit-only service. Beard and moustache colour develops with 5- to 10-volume.
D. 30-volume is chosen for two to three levels of lift on scalp hair services. On a beard there is nothing to lift and sensitive skin below — low-volume deposit-only developer is the choice.
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A client experiencing medically related hair loss is being fitted for a custom wig. During the consultation, what should the hairstylist do before placing the order?
- Ask the client's physician to choose the wig construction.
- Prepare a cost estimate and discuss the client's medical concerns.
- Wait until the wig arrives to match colour to the existing hair.
- Order the wig first so the exact invoice price is known.
Show the answer
B. Correct. The consultation for selecting a wig includes preparing a cost estimate before ordering and discussing medical concerns, along with matching the piece to skin tone, existing hair and personal style — so the client approves fit, look and price before money is committed.
Why not the others
A. Medical concerns are discussed with the client, but selecting construction, fibre and colour is the hairstylist's consultation work with the client — not a decision delegated to the physician.
C. Matching to the client's existing hair, skin tone and personal style is part of selection — it happens before ordering, so the piece that arrives already blends or creates the intended effect.
D. Ordering before the client has accepted an estimate risks an unsellable custom piece and an unhappy client. The estimate is prepared and agreed on before ordering.
02Answer key
| Question | Answer | Sub-task |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | Customizes hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces |
| Q2 | D | Performs depilatory facial and nape services |
| Q3 | D | Maintains hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces |
| Q4 | C | Colours facial hair |
| Q5 | B | Selects hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces |
03What block G covers
This block covers wigs, hairpieces and hair extensions, plus basic services on the face and nape. It includes human hair and synthetic fibre, hand-tied and machine-made wigs, measuring the head, clip-in, tape-in and fusion extensions, blending, cleaning and removal, traction damage, waxing and other hair removal at the nape, and colouring beards and moustaches.
The Red Seal Occupational Standard names this block “Performs specialized services”. It carries 5% of the exam, about 6 of the 120 questions, split across two tasks. The share column is each task's weight within the block, as the standard publishes it.
| Task and its sub-tasks | Share of block |
|---|---|
| Performs services for hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces Selects hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces; Customizes hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces; Maintains hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces | 73% |
| Performs basic services on the face and nape Performs depilatory facial and nape services; Colours facial hair | 27% |
04What the questions turn on
Human hair versus synthetic
Human hair pieces can be recoloured and restyled with thermal tools. Standard synthetic fibre cannot take oxidative colour and distorts under heat, so it is styled with fingers, a wide-tooth comb and wig styling products instead.
Extension care and upkeep
Keep oils and rich conditioners off tape and keratin bonds, since they loosen them. As regrowth carries tape-in wefts away from the scalp, remove them, clean off the adhesive residue and re-tape them close to the base.
Waxing the nape
Waxing removes hair from the follicle, so regrowth is slower and comes in tapered. Apply the wax with the growth, hold the skin taut and pull the strip off quickly against the growth. Use a fresh spatula for every dip.
Colouring facial hair
Beard and moustache colour is deposit only, so it uses a low 5- to 10-volume developer, with a patch test 24 to 48 hours ahead. Aniline-derivative haircolour is never applied to eyelashes, whatever the client asks.
05The other blocks
The 332A exam has eight blocks. Each has its own page of free questions:
The 332A Hairstylist practice exam page describes the full question bank. How these questions are written and checked: how our questions are made. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.