Texas Cosmetology Practical Exam Kit List & Checklist
Every item, the exact must-label vs. do-not-label rules, and all 13 timed stations for the Texas Cosmetology Operator practical exam, administered by PSI on behalf of TDLR — sourced directly from the official PSI Candidate Information Bulletin effective January 1, 2026.
3h 31m
Total Exam Length
70%
Passing Score (84/119 pts)
13
Sections
119
Total Points
Interactive kit checklist
Tick items as you pack — your progress is saved on this device. Print or save it as a PDF to check your bag the night before.
Products & containers you must bring
Label each in English (manufacturer labels are acceptable; numbering of any kind is not allowed).
Tools & implements you must bring
Do NOT label these — labeling a do-not-label item can lose points.
Already provided at the exam site — don't bring these
- Work area and chair
- Covered trash cans
- Mounted wall clock
- Brooms and dust pans
Station-by-station step order
Every task must be performed in this exact order — the time allotted for each section includes setup and cleanup, and you cannot leave the exam area once you've signed in.
1. Pre-Exam Set Up & Disinfection
10 min- • Disinfect work surfaces, dispose of waste, kit remains sanitary
2. Monomer & Polymer Over Tip (mannequin hand)
32 min- • Apply a nail tip, then a monomer-and-polymer overlay, on one nail
- • Nail liquid must be odorless — examiners check it before the exam
3. Blood Exposure Incident
12 min- • Full procedure on a simulated cut — gloves, pressure, cleaning, bandaging, disposal
4. Facial
17 min- • Cleanse, apply massage cream and demonstrate massage manipulations, remove cream, apply toner/moisturizer
5. Waxing with Soft Wax
14 min- • Apply a simulated soft-wax product to one eyebrow — application, fabric strip, removal, post-wax product
6. Haircut
42 min- • Cut a minimum of one inch throughout the entire head using shears and a razor
7. Permanent Wave
22 min- • Wrap a minimum of 6 rods in the center-back section, demonstrate saturation and a test curl
8. Blow Drying & Thermal Curling
22 min- • Blow dry wet hair, then complete curls in a section of your choice using a curling iron
9. Mannequin Preparation
10 min- • Section the mannequin and apply protective cream to prepare for the chemical services that follow
10. Foil Highlights
Not timed- • Apply a high-lift product to 2 subsections in a quadrant of your choice using foils
11. Hydroxide Virgin Relaxer
10 min- • Complete a virgin relaxer application in a quadrant of your choice
12. Hydroxide Relaxer Retouch
10 min- • Complete a relaxer retouch assuming two inches of regrowth
13. End of Exam Disinfection
10 min- • Dispose of materials, disinfect the workstation, remove all supplies and belongings
Rules that cost candidates real points
- •Every service is performed on mannequins — a head for the hair services and a hand for the nail service. No live models.
- •All tasks must be performed in the order listed — steps out of order, or not completed within the allotted time, are not scored.
- •Follow the bulletin's two labeling lists exactly: label the required products in English, but do NOT label tools/implements. Numbering any item is never allowed; an identifying bag for a service is fine.
- •Cheat sheets and written notes — including numbered bags or bags with a written supply list — are prohibited and cost points across all Procedure Criteria.
- •Aerosol products are not permitted. Nail liquid must be odorless (examiners check) or you can't use it and lose those points.
- •No markings or coloring around the mannequin's hair, scalp, hairline, hands, or fingers.
- •Raise your hand at the end of each section to signal completion.
- •Cell phones are not allowed in the practical room, and anything left behind is discarded.
Where to get your kit
You can assemble this kit yourself from what you already used in school, or buy a pre-packed Texas cosmetology state-board kit from a beauty-supply vendor. If you buy one, verify it against the list above first — the exam bulletin was updated January 1, 2026, and not every vendor kit matches the current stations.
Common Questions
How long is the Texas cosmetology practical exam, and what score do I need to pass?
As of the January 1, 2026 Candidate Information Bulletin, the practical exam runs 3 hours and 31 minutes across 13 sections, worth 119 total points. You need 70% — 84 of 119 points — to pass.
Do I need a live model for the Texas cosmetology practical exam?
No. The practical exam is performed entirely on mannequins — a mannequin head for the hair services and a mannequin hand (with tips representing the natural nail) for the nail service. Live models are not required or allowed.
Which kit items must be labeled in English, and which can't be labeled at all?
The bulletin gives two explicit lists. Products — disinfectant, hand sanitizer, cleansing/massage/moisturizer/protective products, cuticle oil, nail adhesive and dehydrator, odorless monomer, polymer powder, simulated perm/chemical/soft-wax products, water spray bottle, blood-exposure kit, and trash bags — MUST be labeled in English. Tools — blow dryer, curling iron, shears, combs, clips, foils, perm rods, mannequins, nail files, and more — must NOT be labeled. Numbering any item is never allowed.
Can I put markings or coloring on the mannequin's scalp or hairline to guide my work?
No. No markings or colorings are permitted around the mannequin's hair, scalp, hairline, hands, or fingers. Bringing a marked mannequin can forfeit the points for every section using it.
Where can I find the official, most current kit list?
This page is built from the PSI Cosmetology Operator Candidate Information Bulletin effective January 1, 2026 — the same document TDLR and PSI use to administer the exam. Requirements are updated periodically, so confirm against your own bulletin at psiexams.com before your exam date.