Prepare for the Maryland Cosmetology State Practice Exam with interactive quizzes. Study with detailed flashcards, multiple-choice questions, all designed with hints and detailed explanations. Become exam-ready today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is the outermost layer of hair called?

  1. Cortex

  2. Cuticle

  3. Epidermis

  4. Dermis

The correct answer is: Cuticle

The outermost layer of hair is called the cuticle. The other options, cortex, epidermis, and dermis, represent layers of skin, not hair. The cortex refers to the innermost layer of hair, while the epidermis and dermis refer to layers of skin. The cuticle contains overlapping scales that help protect the hair and give it its shine. Therefore, cuticle is the most appropriate answer as it accurately describes the outermost layer of hair.