GA Barber II key terms

Using a chemical product to destroy most harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses on tools and surfaces. It does not reliably kill bacterial spores, so it is weaker than sterilization and is done after every client.

A process that destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, on an object. In barbering it applies to items exposed to blood, and is commonly done with an autoclave using heat and pressure.

A product carrying an EPA registration number and labeled for hospital use, meaning it is strong enough for blood and body-fluid spills. Barbers mix it at the label dilution and leave it on tools for the full contact time.

A standardized document from a product maker listing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, first-aid steps, and storage needs. A shop must keep one for every chemical it uses and make it available to workers.

Treating every client's blood and body fluids as if they carry infectious disease, no matter what is known about that person. It means gloves, barriers, and careful cleanup for every service that might cause bleeding.

A haircut in which length gradually shortens from one area to another, usually at the sides and nape. Longer hair on top blends into shorter hair below without a hard visible line.

A taper taken down to or nearly to the skin. It is built by working through several clipper guard lengths in order so no line shows between the shortest and longest areas.

The angle at which hair is lifted away from the head before it is cut. Low elevation keeps weight and length, while high elevation removes weight and creates layers.

The first cut that sets the length all other sections are matched to. A stationary guide is not moved and anchors the whole cut; a traveling guide becomes the new reference as you work across the head.

A cutting method where the clipper runs along the back of a comb held in the hair, removing bulk and blending short areas. It gives more control than the clipper alone on soft or uneven growth.

Polishing and realigning a straight razor's edge by drawing it across a leather strop before each shave. Stropping smooths the edge and removes tiny burrs, but it will not sharpen a dull blade.

Grinding a straight razor's edge back into shape on a sharpening stone to restore sharpness. It is done far less often than stropping and is usually followed by stropping to finish the edge.

A moist, cushioning foam worked into the beard to soften hair, hold it upright, and protect skin during a razor pass. It is applied in a circular motion and refreshed as it cools or dries.

The shaped lower boundary of a beard at the throat. It is usually set just above the Adam's apple and curved to follow the jaw so the finished beard looks natural rather than painted on.

A product applied to a small cut to stop bleeding by constricting the tissue, commonly used after shaving nicks. It is applied with a clean applicator, never straight from a shared container onto skin.

Placing a small amount of color product on skin, usually behind the ear or in the inner elbow, 24 to 48 hours before a service. It checks whether the client is allergic to the formula.

Trying a color, lightener, or waving product on a small cutting of the client's hair before the full service. It predicts timing, final result, and how much damage the hair will take.

Hydrogen peroxide mixed with permanent color or lightener to open the cuticle and drive the color reaction. Its strength, stated as a volume, controls how much lifting happens and how fast.

A number from 1 to 10 that describes how light or dark the hair is, with 1 being black and 10 the lightest blond. Level is judged before a formula is chosen.

A strong cream, either hydroxide-based or thio-based, that straightens curly hair by breaking bonds inside the cortex. It needs a scalp base, careful timing, and a neutralizing shampoo at the end.

A shampoo or solution used after a relaxer or perm to stop the chemical action and return hair to its normal pH. In relaxing it also rebuilds bonds so the straightened shape holds.

The cleansing ingredient in shampoo that attaches to oil and dirt so water can rinse them away. It produces lather and lifts debris from the scalp without hard scrubbing.

A scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or alkaline a product is, with 7 being neutral. Hair and skin prefer slightly acidic products; high-pH shampoos swell the cuticle and leave hair rough.

A conditioner made near the hair's natural acidic pH to smooth the cuticle, reduce tangling, and add shine after shampooing. It is worked through the hair, left briefly, and rinsed.

Hand movements used during shampooing or a scalp treatment, such as friction, kneading, tapping, and gliding strokes. They loosen debris, boost circulation, and relax the client without pulling the hair.

Long, gliding strokes made with the palms and fingers, used to open and close a facial or scalp massage. The movement warms tissue, relaxes the client, and spreads product evenly.

Kneading, lifting, and squeezing movements that reach deeper into muscle and soft tissue. On the face and neck it is done lightly with fingertips and thumbs and never drags the skin.

Quick, rhythmic tapping or percussion made with the fingertips or the edges of the hands. On the face it is brief and light, used to stimulate the skin and finish the massage.

A condition that makes a service unsafe or unwise for a particular client, such as broken skin, an active infection, or a recent chemical peel. When one is present, stop and refer the client out.

A tube-shaped pocket in the skin where a hair grows. The bulb at its base holds the matrix that builds new cells, and an oil gland usually opens into the upper part.

A small oil-producing gland attached to a hair follicle that releases sebum onto the skin and hair. Sebum lubricates and protects, and overactivity contributes to oily scalp and acne.

The active growth stage of the hair cycle, when cells in the follicle divide and the hair gets longer. On the scalp it lasts for years, and most scalp hairs are in this stage at any moment.

An infestation of lice on the scalp and hair, spread by direct contact or shared combs, hats, and brushes. A barber must recognize it, stop the service, and disinfect tools and linens.

A fungal infection of the scalp and hair, often called ringworm, that causes scaly patches and broken hairs. It is contagious, so service is refused and the client is sent to a physician.

Hair loss that may be temporary or permanent and can come from genetics, illness, medication, or tight styling. Barbers should not promise regrowth and should refer sudden or patchy loss.

The set of services a licensed barber is legally allowed to perform under Georgia law, and the limits of those services. Working outside it can lead to discipline from the board.

Explaining a service's risks, likely results, and alternatives to a client and getting their agreement before starting. It matters most for chemical services and work on sensitive or previously treated skin.

Keeping a client's personal details, health information, and service records private, sharing them only when the law requires it. Records should be stored securely and discussed only with the client.

The licensing and regulatory body that sets rules for barbers and barbershops in Georgia, covering sanitation standards, licensing, inspections, and discipline for violations of the law.