Haircutting and Hair Shaping
Haircutting items focus on sectioning, elevation, guides, tension, and the result each cutting line produces. The exam expects you to choose a technique from a described outcome, not just name a haircut.
Core rules
- Elevation controls length distribution. Zero elevation gives a blunt perimeter; 45 degrees builds graduation; 90 degrees creates uniform layers; 180 degrees produces long layers and removes weight.
- A stationary guide does not move and preserves length; a mobile guide travels with each subsection and can build graduation or layers.
- Tension must be consistent. Wet hair stretches; check the dry result before finishing. Cross-check sections against each other for symmetry.
- Shears, razors, clippers, and texturizing shears remove hair differently. A razor softens a line but can fray a blunt perimeter; clipper-over-comb is for short tapering.
Worked example
A client wants a soft graduated bob: length at the nape, fullness at the back. Establish a stationary guide at the perimeter, cut vertical subsections at 45 degrees, and keep tension even. Cross-check the left and right sides because an inconsistent angle shows as a tilted line.
Traps
Changing elevation without changing the guide; cutting a blunt line with a razor; thinning the scalp area instead of interior weight; and checking only one side in the mirror.