FL Restricted Barber Exam cheat sheet

Barbering in Florida is regulated under Chapter 476, Florida Statutes, with rules in Chapter 61G3, Florida Administrative Code; the Board of Barbers is under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

A registered barber must hold a current license and display it at the work location; practicing on a suspended or expired license is a violation subject to discipline.

Licenses renew on a two-year cycle; renewal requires completing 16 hours of continuing education, including the board-mandated HIV/AIDS and OSHA bloodborne pathogen content.

A barber shop must obtain a shop registration from DBPR before offering services; the shop must have a designated licensed barber in charge and pass a health inspection.

Only a licensed barber or a registered barber student under direct supervision may perform barbering services; unlicensed practice is a criminal violation.

Sanitation rules require closed containers for clean implements, an approved disinfectant with a stated kill time, and a covered waste receptacle; a shop may be inspected without prior notice.

A licensee must report a change of address to the board within 30 days and must not use a title implying licensure that they do not hold.

Grounds for discipline include unsanitary practices, fraud, practicing beyond scope, and aiding unlicensed practice; penalties range from reprimand to revocation and fines.

Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after each client and after glove removal; hand sanitizer is a supplement, not a substitute for handwashing.

Disinfect non-porous implements by cleaning, then fully immersing in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant for the label contact time (commonly 10 minutes).

Sterilization (autoclave) kills spores and is required for items that penetrate skin; disinfection alone does not destroy all bacterial spores.

Porous items such as towels, capes, and neck strips must be laundered or replaced for each client; single-use items are discarded after one use.

Implements that cut or contact blood are contaminated; keep a labeled sharps container and never recap or bend used razor blades by hand.

Blood and body-fluid spills are cleaned with gloves, absorbed, then disinfected with an EPA-registered tuberculocidal product; the surface must remain wet for the label time.

A disinfectant must be EPA-registered, mixed at label dilution, and changed per manufacturer instructions; test strips verify quat or chlorine strength.

Universal precautions treat all blood and body fluids as infectious; hepatitis B and HIV are the key bloodborne pathogens in barbering.

The hair shaft has three layers: the cuticle (outer protective scales), the cortex (bulk, containing melanin and keratin), and the medulla (central core, may be absent in fine hair).

The follicle is anchored by the bulb and dermal papilla, which supplies blood and nutrients; the arrector pili muscle causes goosebumps.

Growth cycles: anagen (active growth, years), catagen (transition, weeks), telogen (resting, months); shedding of 50-100 hairs daily is normal.

Hair texture is determined by follicle shape: round follicles give straight hair, oval gives wavy, and flat gives curly or kinky hair.

Sebaceous glands secrete sebum that lubricates hair and scalp; overactivity contributes to oily scalp and acne-like conditions.

Contagious conditions that barbers must not treat and must refer: tinea capitis (ringworm), pediculosis (lice), and impetigo; stop service and refer to a physician.

Noncontagious conditions include dandruff (pityriasis), seborrheic dermatitis, and alopecia (areata or androgenetic); these may still require medical referral.

Melanin in the cortex determines natural color: eumelanin gives brown-black, pheomelanin gives red-blonde; gray hair results from lost pigment production.

Section hair into clean, workable subsections using clips; the head is divided into four quadrants with a center part and a horizontal part from ear to ear.

Elevation (projection) controls layering: 0 degrees produces a blunt line, 45 degrees creates graduation, 90 degrees creates uniform layers, and 180 degrees creates long layers.

Cutting position: blunt or club cutting builds weight; point cutting softens ends; slide cutting thins and blends; notching adds texture.

The guide (reference) may be a stationary guide for a consistent line or a traveling guide for graduated lengths; always follow the guide precisely.

Cross-check the cut by combing hair in the opposite direction; any uneven line shows up and is corrected before finishing.

Thinning shears remove bulk without shortening the perimeter; use sparingly on fine or curly hair, which can frizz or lose shape.

Clipper work: use the guard number to set length (higher number equals longer), keep the blade flat to the head, and outline the neckline after the main cut.

Dry cutting suits curly or textured hair because shrinkage is visible; wet cutting gives cleaner lines on straight hair but masks true length.

A shave begins with a warm towel and lather to soften the beard; the razor is held at about a 30-degree angle and moved with the grain on the first pass.

Stretch the skin taut opposite the stroke direction; short, gliding strokes reduce nicks, especially over the chin, jaw, and upper lip.

A straight razor must be stropped to align the edge; never test sharpness on skin, and never share a razor between clients.

Contraindications for shaving include open lesions, sunburn, cold sores, and skin infections; refer the client and do not shave the area.

A second pass against the grain gives a closer shave but raises ingrown hair and irritation risk; finish with a cool towel and an alcohol-free aftershave.

Beard design: establish the neckline about one to two finger-widths above the Adam's apple, and the cheek line along the natural growth pattern.

Outline the beard with a trimmer or razor, then blend with clippers using a guard that matches the desired length; taper the sideburns into the haircut.

Moustache trimming uses a comb and trimmer; keep the line above the upper lip natural and avoid removing too much of the center.

Shampoo selection depends on scalp type: clarifying shampoo for product buildup, moisturizing for dry scalp, and medicated shampoo only as directed for dandruff.

Wet hair with warm water, apply shampoo to the scalp rather than the ends, massage with fingertips (not nails), and rinse until the water runs clear.

Conditioner is applied to mid-lengths and ends, left for the label time, and rinsed; it smooths the cuticle and reduces friction and breakage.

Scalp massage increases blood flow and is performed with the pads of the fingers in small circular movements; it is contraindicated over inflamed or broken skin.

A scalp treatment is selected by scalp condition: dry scalp benefits from oil or moisturizing treatments; oily scalp benefits from astringent or clarifying products.

Water temperature matters: hot water strips oils and fades color, while cool water closes the cuticle and improves shine.

Draping protects the client: a neck strip prevents cape contact with skin, and a waterproof cape is used for wet services.

A patch test is required before applying certain chemical or dye products, and any product causing burning or redness is removed immediately.

The hair color wheel: primary colors are red, yellow, and blue; secondary colors are orange, green, and violet; opposite colors neutralize each other.

Natural level is ranked 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde); identify the starting level before choosing a formula or developer.

Developer strength: 10 volume (3%) lifts about one level, 20 volume (6%) about two, 30 volume (9%) about three, and 40 volume (12%) about four.

Permanent color uses an aniline derivative with developer to deposit color inside the cortex; semi-permanent color deposits on the cuticle and fades over several shampoos.

Lightening (bleach) removes pigment; the process stops when the desired level is reached, and a toner is applied to correct unwanted warmth.

Always patch test 24-48 hours before color and perform a strand test to predict timing and result on the client's hair.

Contraindications include a history of allergic reaction, compromised scalp, and metallic salt or henna history that can cause unpredictable or harmful reactions.

Timing starts when the product is fully applied; check development frequently, and remove product before the scalp shows irritation.

A permanent wave breaks disulfide bonds with a reducing agent (ammonium thioglycolate), reshapes hair on rods, then rebuilds bonds with a neutralizer (hydrogen peroxide or sodium bromate).

Rod size controls curl: smaller rods give tighter curls; the rod diameter should be no more than about half the length of the hair section wound on it.

Processing time depends on hair porosity and product strength; a strand test predicts curl formation, and the wave is checked before neutralizer is applied.

Relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye) or guanidine/ammonium-based (no-lye) agents at high pH to straighten the cortex; a base cream protects the scalp.

A relaxer retouch applies product only to new growth, never over previously relaxed hair, to avoid overlapping and breakage.

Thioglycolate relaxers (pH around 9-9.5) are milder than hydroxide relaxers (pH 12-14) and are not interchangeable with them.

Neutralizing shampoo lowers pH and removes relaxer residue; the hair is then conditioned and evaluated before styling.

Contraindications for chemical waving or relaxing include scalp abrasions, recent color or bleach, and a positive patch or strand test reaction.