KY Barber flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Sanitize vs. sterilize

Sanitizing reduces pathogens on surfaces to a safe level using an EPA-registered product, while sterilizing destroys all microbial life including spores using an autoclave or chemical sterilant.

Single-use items

Porous items such as towels, neck strips, cotton, emery boards, and wooden sticks cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one client to prevent cross-contamination.

Blood spill procedure

Don gloves, stop the bleed, clean the area, disinfect with an EPA-registered tuberculocidal product, and seal contaminated waste in a labeled bag before disposal.

Scalp analysis before shampoo

Check the scalp for abrasions, lesions, redness, flakes, oiliness, and parasites; open sores or active infections contraindicate shampooing and require referral to a physician.

Surfactant action

The hydrophobic tail binds oil and soil while the hydrophilic head binds water; lather lifts the soil so it can be rinsed away, with anionic surfactants cleansing most strongly.

Hair porosity

Porosity is the hair's ability to absorb and retain moisture; high porosity absorbs quickly but loses moisture fast, while low porosity resists moisture and chemical penetration.

Elevation and shape

Elevation controls shape: 0 degrees gives a blunt one-length cut, 45 degrees low graduation, 90 degrees uniform layers, 135 degrees long layers, and 180 degrees short layers.

Stationary versus traveling guide

A stationary guide uses one fixed section for all following cuts and keeps length even, while a traveling guide uses each cut as the next guide and progresses the shape.

Cross-checking a haircut

Comb the hair in the opposite direction and inspect the outline, comparing both sides against the nose, ears, and jaw to confirm balance before finishing.

Razor angle when shaving

Hold the razor at about 30 degrees to the skin, use short light strokes, and shave with the grain first; against-the-grain passes raise irritation and ingrown hair risk.

Beard neckline placement

Set the neckline just above the Adam's apple and follow the natural jaw curve; a straight line across the neck looks unnatural and should be avoided.

Shaving contraindications

Do not shave over acne lesions, razor bumps, open sores, sunburn, recent chemical peels, or active skin infections; refer the client rather than proceeding.

Permanent wave chemistry

The reducing agent breaks disulfide bonds in the cortex, and the neutralizer rebuilds them in the new shape; a test curl determines processing time.

Relaxer retouch rule

Apply relaxer only to new growth; overlapping onto previously relaxed hair causes breakage and scalp burns, and processing must not exceed the manufacturer's time.

Developer volume and lift

Ten volume deposits only, twenty volume lifts about one level, thirty volume lifts two to three levels, and forty volume lifts three to four levels with more cuticle damage.

Hair shaft layers

The cuticle is the outer overlapping protective scales, the cortex is the bulk containing melanin and keratin, and the medulla is the core, which is absent in fine hair.

Hair growth cycle

Anagen is active growth lasting two to six years, catagen is a transition of two to three weeks, and telogen is a resting phase of about three months before shedding.

Skin layers

The epidermis is the outer avascular layer, the dermis contains hair follicles, glands, nerves, and vessels, and the subcutaneous layer provides fat, insulation, and shock absorption.

Kentucky regulatory body

Barbering in Kentucky is regulated by the Kentucky Board of Barbering under KRS Chapter 317, which licenses barbers, apprentices, shops, and instructors.

Shop license display

The shop license and individual licenses must be posted in public view, and a shop may not operate without a licensed barber on duty during business hours.

Board inspection authority

Board inspectors may enter a licensed shop during business hours to inspect sanitation, licensure, and equipment; violations may result in fines, suspension, or revocation.

Client consultation

Assess hair and scalp, ask about chemical history, medications, allergies, and expectations, and document the agreed service and price before starting any work.

Confidentiality in barbering

Client information, health conditions, and photographs are private and must not be discussed or shared without the client's written permission.

Professional boundaries

Maintain a respectful professional relationship, avoid personal discussions that make clients uncomfortable, and never disclose one client's business to another.

Chemical bonds in hair

Disulfide bonds are the strongest and are changed by perms and relaxers; salt and hydrogen bonds break with water and heat; peptide bonds break only with strong chemicals.

Patch test timing

Apply a small amount of color behind the ear or inner elbow twenty-four to forty-eight hours before service; redness, itching, or swelling contraindicates the service.

pH of hair and skin

Hair and skin are mildly acidic at about pH 4.5 to 5.5; alkaline products swell and lift the cuticle, while acidic products close and smooth it.

Client draping

Use a fresh neck strip and cape for haircuts, and a clean towel plus cape for shaves; change linens between every client to prevent cross-contamination.

Facial service sequence

Cleanse, exfoliate, steam, extract only with proper training, massage, and moisturize; avoid extraction on inflamed or infected skin and refer when needed.

Shears maintenance

Keep blades sharp, oil the pivot regularly, and never cut paper or drop the shears; dull shears pull hair and cause split ends.

Clipper blade care

Brush out hair after each use, oil the blades regularly, and disinfect with an EPA-registered product; detachable blades must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.

Sharps disposal

Place used razor blades and other sharps in a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container; never recap or bend blades by hand before disposal.