← Nail Care – California Cosmetology State Board Exam

Free Nail Care – California Cosmetology State Board Exam Practice Test (2026)

110 questions · 120 min · 70% to pass

110 Questions · 120 Minutes · 70% to Pass

Question 1 of 5

Sample Questions

Question 1

What part of the nail is responsible for nail growth?

Answer: The nail matrix. It contains nerves, lymph vessels, and blood vessels that produce the nail plate cells.

Question 2

What is the hyponychium?

Answer: The hyponychium is the slightly thickened layer of skin beneath the free edge of the nail plate. It forms a seal to protect the nail bed from infection.

Question 3

What is the nail mantle?

Answer: The nail mantle is the deep fold of skin at the base of the nail that covers the matrix area. It protects the matrix from physical damage.

Question 4

What term describes the whitish, half-moon shaped area visible at the base of the nail plate?

Answer: The lunula. It is the visible part of the nail matrix and appears white because the matrix tissue is less transparent than the rest of the nail plate.

Question 5

What is the name of the living skin that overlaps the nail plate at the base of the nail?

Answer: The eponychium (commonly called the cuticle). It seals the space between the natural nail plate and the living skin to prevent pathogens from entering.