CT Barber study materials
CT Barber study resources

CT Barber study plan

CT Barber · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety Practices

  • List and describe the classes of disinfectants used in barbering, including quats, phenolics, and bleach solutions, and state their correct contact times

  • Demonstrate and label the difference between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization for implements, linens, and surfaces

  • Identify which items are single-use, which require disinfection after each client, and which must be stored in a closed container

  • Explain the safe handling and disposal rules for blood and body-fluid exposure, including the steps to take after an accidental cut

Your checkpoint

A one-page sanitation flow chart, drawn from memory, that traces a pair of clippers and a straight razor from use through cleaning, disinfection, storage, and reuse, scored at 100% against your textbook checklist

Week 2

Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety Practices & Haircutting and Hair Styling

  • Recite Connecticut-safe electrical and tool safety practices, including cord inspection, immersion limits, and wet-hand precautions

  • Identify the bones of the skull and the reference points used to divide the head into sections for cutting

  • Describe the four basic haircut structures and match each to a client scenario

  • Practice proper body stance, hand position, and shear grip on a mannequin for 30 minutes per session

Your checkpoint

A written 20-item tool-and-surface safety self-audit of your own station plus a labeled skull diagram with all reference points correctly placed

Week 3

Haircutting and Hair Styling

  • Execute blunt, graduated, and uniform-layer cuts on a mannequin, checking sectioning and elevation each time

  • Explain how head shape, growth patterns, and hair density change the cutting approach for a taper, fade, and flat top

  • Demonstrate shear-over-comb and clipper-over-comb techniques with controlled pressure and no gouging

  • Compare the tools and tensions used in wet styling versus thermal styling and describe the heat-safety limits for each

Your checkpoint

Three completed mannequin cuts (one clipper cut, one scissor cut, one mixed) with a self-scored rubric covering sectioning, blending, and line quality

Week 4

Haircutting and Hair Styling & Shaving, Beard, and Mustache Services

  • Refine finishing work: outline the neckline and sideburns cleanly and texturize to remove weight lines

  • Diagram the direction of hair growth across the beard, mustache, neck, and face to plan shaving strokes

  • Describe the setup sequence for a wet shave: towel, lather, razor angle, stroke direction, and cleanup

  • Identify the signs of skin irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hairs and state the appropriate response

Your checkpoint

A timed, self-recorded full haircut-plus-neck-shave sequence on a mannequin completed within 45 minutes and checked against a 15-point technique checklist

Week 5

Shaving, Beard, and Mustache Services

  • Perform a complete wet shave on a mannequin using correct razor angle, stroke patterns, and re-lather passes

  • Demonstrate safe straight-razor handling, stropping, and blade disposal

  • Explain the steps for beard and mustache design, including outlining, trimming to a consistent length, and blending into the sideburn

  • List the aftercare products and skin-conditioning steps used post-shave and when to avoid shaving a client entirely

Your checkpoint

A written shave-service procedure sheet covering prep, lather, three passes, cleanup, and aftercare, plus one mannequin shave evaluated against it

Week 6

Chemical Services (Coloring, Relaxing, and Permanent Waving)

  • Explain the color wheel, developer volumes, and the difference between temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent color

  • Describe the patch test, strand test, and client-record requirements before any chemical service

  • Outline the relaxer procedure, including base application, processing timing, smoothing, and neutralizing

  • Outline the permanent wave procedure, including rod selection, winding patterns, processing, and neutralization

  • Identify contraindications and required safety steps for chemical services, including ventilation and glove use

Your checkpoint

A side-by-side comparison chart of coloring, relaxing, and permanent waving that lists products, timing, safety checks, and failure signs, with each procedure checked against your textbook

Week 7

Hair and Scalp Care and Treatment & Client Consultation, Communication, and Professional Conduct

  • Identify scalp and hair conditions that barbers may treat versus those that must be referred to a physician

  • Describe the purpose and correct application of shampoos, conditioners, and scalp treatments by hair type

  • Conduct a full client consultation that covers hair analysis, lifestyle, maintenance commitment, and expected outcome

  • Demonstrate professional communication and conduct in three scripted scenarios: an unhappy client, a late client, and a confidential health disclosure

Your checkpoint

Three written consultation scripts with a hair-and-scalp analysis section each, role-played once and scored on a 10-point communication rubric

Week 8

Connecticut Barbering Laws, Rules, and Regulations & Sanitation, Sterilization, and Safety Practices & Haircutting and Hair Styling & Shaving, Beard, and Mustache Services & Chemical Services (Coloring, Relaxing, and Permanent Waving) & Hair and Scalp Care and Treatment & Client Consultation, Communication, and Professional Conduct

  • Summarize Connecticut licensing, sanitation, and shop-conduct rules that apply to barbers, including renewal and inspection expectations

  • Complete 150 mixed practice questions across all seven domains and log every miss by domain

  • Re-study your two lowest-scoring domains until you can explain each missed concept without notes

  • Rehearse the sanitation and chemical-safety procedures you were weakest on during the week 1 and week 6 reviews

Your checkpoint

A scored 150-question practice test with a domain-by-domain error log and a written plan for the final 48 hours before the exam

Milestones

Week 2: Pass a 25-question sanitation and safety quiz at 85% or better and demonstrate a full clipper disinfection sequence without prompting

Week 4: Complete the mannequin haircut-and-neck-shave sequence in 45 minutes or less with no missed checklist steps

Week 6: Score 80% or better on a 40-question chemical services quiz and correctly state the patch and strand test rules from memory

Week 8: Score 85% or better on the 150-question mixed practice test with no domain below 75%