AL Master Barber study plan
AL Master Barber · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety & Anatomy, Physiology, and Skin Structure
Define and distinguish cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and match each to the tools and surfaces it applies to
List the classes of disinfectants used in barbering and state the contact time and dilution requirements for each
Identify the layers of skin and the accessory structures (hair follicle, sebaceous gland, arrector pili) and describe each one's function
Demonstrate the correct sequence for sanitizing clippers, shears, and combs between clients
Your checkpoint
A one-page sanitation SOP card listing each tool, its required level of decontamination, and the product/contact time, plus a labeled skin-layer diagram drawn from memory
Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety
Explain the chain of infection and identify where each link is broken in a barbershop
Describe standard precautions, including handwashing steps and proper glove use and removal
State the safety rules for electrical equipment, cord inspection, and wet-hand hazards
Outline the shop's responsibilities for blood exposure incidents and contaminated waste
Your checkpoint
A 20-question self-quiz on sanitation and safety, scored and corrected, with every missed item rewritten as a correct statement
Chemical Services (Coloring, Lightening, and Texture Services) & Hair and Scalp Care and Treatments
Explain the color wheel, levels of lightness and darkness, and the role of developer volume in color services
Differentiate temporary, semipermanent, and permanent color and describe when each is appropriate
Describe the chemistry of relaxers and curl re-forming, including the role of the neutralizer
Identify scalp and hair conditions (dandruff, seborrhea, alopecia, tinea) and classify each as treatable in-shop or referral-only
Your checkpoint
A comparison chart of color and texture products covering purpose, developer or neutralizer used, processing considerations, and contraindications
Chemical Services (Coloring, Lightening, and Texture Services) & Hair and Scalp Care and Treatments
Perform a patch test and a strand test procedure and document what each result tells the barber
Sequence a full color or lightening service from consultation through shampoo-out
List the signs of chemical burn or adverse reaction and the immediate response steps
Match shampoo and conditioner types to hair and scalp conditions
Your checkpoint
A written step-by-step service protocol for one color service and one texture service, each with a client-consultation checklist and an adverse-reaction response section
Haircutting and Styling & Shaving, Beard Trimming, and Facial Hair Services
Identify the principal bones of the skull and face and the muscles of mastication and expression that affect haircutting and shaving
Describe the four basic haircutting sections and the elevation and distribution used for each
Explain the angles and tool positions used to create graduation, layers, and blunt lines
Sequence a beard trim and a facial shave, including skin preparation, stroke direction, and finishing
State the safety and sanitation rules specific to straight razor use
Your checkpoint
A haircutting and shaving reference sheet with labeled head diagram, sectioning map, and a numbered shave sequence
Haircutting and Styling & Shaving, Beard Trimming, and Facial Hair Services & Anatomy, Physiology, and Skin Structure
Explain the structure of the hair shaft and follicle and how cuticle, cortex, and medulla respond to cutting and chemicals
Relate hair growth cycles to service intervals and expectations
Describe facial shapes and how to recommend styles that complement each
Outline the anatomy and physiology of the skin as it relates to shaving irritation and ingrown hairs
Your checkpoint
A 25-question mixed quiz across haircutting, shaving, and anatomy, scored and corrected, with a short written rationale for each corrected item
Shop Management, Business Practices, and Alabama Barber Laws and Regulations
State the licensing, renewal, and continuing education requirements for barbers in Alabama
Describe shop licensing, inspection, and sanitation-record requirements
Explain the rules on client records, advertising, and prohibited practices
Outline basic business practices: pricing, booth rental versus commission, and recordkeeping
Identify the consequences of violations and the complaint process
Your checkpoint
A one-page Alabama rules and business-practices summary organized by license, shop, and conduct, with each item cited to its source category
Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety & Chemical Services (Coloring, Lightening, and Texture Services) & Shop Management, Business Practices, and Alabama Barber Laws and Regulations
Review all eight weeks using a weighted practice exam sized to the domain percentages
Re-drill every missed item until each is answered correctly twice
Rehearse the highest-risk procedures: disinfection sequence, patch and strand testing, and razor safety
Build a final one-page cue sheet of figures, contact times, and rule numbers to review the day before the exam
Your checkpoint
A full-length weighted practice exam scored at or above 80 percent, plus a completed one-page final review cue sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80 percent on the sanitation and safety self-quiz and explain the chain of infection and standard precautions without notes
Week 4: Walk through both service protocols aloud, correctly naming developer or neutralizer, processing considerations, and the adverse-reaction steps
Week 6: Score at least 75 percent on the mixed quiz and correctly locate the skull bones, facial muscles, and skin layers on a blank diagram
Week 8: Score at least 80 percent on the weighted practice exam, with no domain below 70 percent