MA Barber flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Disinfection vs sterilization
- Disinfection destroys most microorganisms on surfaces, while sterilization destroys all microbial life including spores. Barbers use hospital-grade disinfectants, not sterilizers, on implements.
- Tuberculocidal disinfectant
- An EPA-registered disinfectant proven effective against the tuberculosis bacterium. It is required for cleaning implements and surfaces contaminated with blood or body fluids.
- Single-use items
- Items such as razor blades, neck strips, and cotton that cannot be disinfected and are discarded after one client. Reusing them violates sanitation standards.
- Hand washing duration
- Soap and water hand washing for at least 20 seconds is required before and after every client service to prevent cross-contamination.
- Hair porosity
- The hair's ability to absorb moisture. High porosity feels rough and absorbs quickly; low porosity feels smooth and resists moisture, affecting chemical service timing.
- Hair elasticity
- The hair's ability to stretch and return to shape. Healthy wet hair stretches about 50 percent; poor elasticity indicates damage and limits chemical services.
- Hair density
- The number of hairs per square inch on the scalp. Density ranges from thin to thick and influences tool selection and cutting technique, not chemical processing time.
- Hair whorl
- A circular growth pattern, usually at the crown, where hair grows outward from a center point. It affects cutting and styling direction.
- Tinea capitis
- A contagious fungal infection of the scalp that causes scaling and hair loss. Service is refused and the client is referred to a physician.
- Furuncle
- A localized bacterial infection of a hair follicle, commonly called a boil. A cluster of furuncles is a carbuncle. Contagious; service is refused.
- Pediculosis
- An infestation of head lice on the scalp and hair. It is contagious, so service is refused and the client is referred for treatment.
- Alopecia areata
- A noncontagious condition causing patchy hair loss, possibly from an autoimmune response. Alopecia totalis is complete scalp hair loss.
- Shaving lather purpose
- Lather softens the beard, holds moisture against the hair, and lubricates the skin so the razor glides and irritation is reduced.
- Straight razor angle
- The straight razor is held at approximately a 30-degree angle to the skin during shaving, with the skin held taut to protect against nicks.
- Beard neckline placement
- The beard neckline is shaped above the Adam's apple, following the natural curve of the jawline, to create a balanced outline.
- Styptic powder
- A product applied to minor shaving cuts to stop bleeding and protect the area. It is used after a nick during facial hair services.
- Solid haircut form
- A haircut form with no elevation, where all hair is cut at one length to build weight at the perimeter. Also called a blunt or one-length cut.
- Elevation in haircutting
- The angle at which hair is held away from the head. Zero degrees creates a solid form; 90 degrees creates uniform layering.
- Guide in haircutting
- The first strand or section of hair cut, used as a reference for length and shape for the remaining sections of the haircut.
- Cross-checking
- Comparing opposite sections of hair to verify that length and balance are even. It is a quality-control step during haircutting.
- Neutralizer function
- The neutralizer in a permanent wave rebuilds the disulfide bonds in their new shape after the waving solution has broken them.
- Patch test
- A test for allergic reaction performed 24 to 48 hours before a color or relaxer service by applying a small amount of product to the skin.
- Strand test
- A test performed on a small section of hair before a chemical service to determine processing time and predict the result.
- Hair color levels
- A scale from 1 (black) to 10 (lightest blonde) describing the lightness or darkness of hair color before and after coloring.
- Hair cuticle
- The outermost layer of the hair shaft, made of overlapping scales that protect the cortex and control porosity and shine.
- Hair cortex
- The middle layer of the hair shaft, containing melanin for color and providing strength and elasticity. Chemical services act on this layer.
- Hair papilla
- A small cone-shaped structure at the base of the hair follicle that supplies blood and nutrients to the growing hair.
- Arrector pili muscle
- A small muscle attached to the hair follicle that contracts in response to cold or emotion, causing hair to stand up and creating goosebumps.
- Thinning shears
- Cutting tools with one serrated blade that remove bulk and create texture without changing the overall length of the hair.
- Clipper blade numbers
- Clippers are sized by blade number; lower numbers cut closer to the skin, while higher numbers leave more length.
- Shear maintenance
- Cutting shears are disinfected, dried, and oiled at the pivot after each use, and are used only on hair to preserve the cutting edge.
- Massachusetts barber license display
- Under Massachusetts Board of Registration of Barbers rules, a barber license must be displayed in the shop, and only licensed barbers may perform services.