MO Barber key terms

The process of destroying most pathogenic organisms on hard, nonporous implements using an EPA-registered hospital-grade product mixed and used exactly as its label directs.

The complete destruction of all microbial life, including bacterial spores, usually achieved in barbering by an autoclave rather than by chemical immersion.

The lowest level of decontamination: mechanical cleaning and removal of visible debris from surfaces and tools before any disinfection step is attempted.

Disease-causing microorganisms such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV that are transmitted through contact with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids.

The practice of treating all blood, body fluids, and potentially infectious materials as if they carry disease, using gloves and other barriers with every client.

A specific event in which broken skin, the eyes, or mucous membranes contact blood or other potentially infectious material; it must be reported and documented promptly.

A product carrying an Environmental Protection Agency registration number and a label claim of hospital-grade efficacy against bacteria, fungi, and viruses when used as directed.

A document supplied with a chemical product that lists its hazards, safe handling, first-aid measures, and storage requirements; it must be kept available in the shop.

The three concentric layers of a hair: the cuticle, a protective outer scale layer; the cortex, the bulk containing pigment and bonds; and the medulla, a central core.

The outermost, overlapping scale layer of the hair that shields the cortex; when it lies flat the hair looks glossy, and when it lifts the hair feels rough and loses moisture.

The thick middle layer of the hair shaft, made of elongated cells, that holds the melanin pigment and the side bonds responsible for strength, elasticity, and curl.

A strong sulfur-to-sulfur chemical bond between protein chains in the cortex; it is broken by relaxers and permanent waves and re-formed in the new shape.

The ability of wet hair to stretch and return to its original length without breaking; a sign of healthy, well-moisturized hair with intact cortex bonds.

The ability of the hair to absorb and retain moisture, determined by the condition of the cuticle; overly porous hair dries quickly and takes color unevenly.

A 0-to-14 measure of acidity and alkalinity in which 7 is neutral; it governs how much the cuticle swells and how strongly a chemical service acts.

The repeating phases of hair growth: anagen, the active growing phase; catagen, a short transition; and telogen, a resting phase that ends in shedding.

A shampoo formulated near the natural pH of hair and scalp, usually around 4.5 to 5.5, which minimizes cuticle swelling and helps preserve color.

A product applied after shampooing that smooths the cuticle, restores moisture and protein, reduces static, and improves combability and shine.

A pre-service examination of the client's scalp and hair for redness, flaking, sores, parasites, or breakage that may limit or contraindicate a service.

Any condition, medication, or circumstance that makes a planned service unsafe or inadvisable, such as open sores, irritation, or a recent chemical burn.

The angle at which hair is held away from the head before cutting; it determines the resulting shape, from a tight graduated line to a soft layered line.

The first section of hair cut in a service; it establishes the length and shape that every following section is matched to.

Cutting across the previous section at a right angle to verify that the line is even and balanced before moving on.

A gradual shortening of hair length toward the nape or around the ears and neckline, blending the perimeter into the longer hair above.

A taper executed so smoothly that the transition from short to long hair shows no visible line, produced by working through successive guard lengths.

Shaping hair with a razor to create soft, textured ends and movement; it requires dry or damp hair and a light touch to avoid fraying the ends.

A warm, moist, cushioning foam worked into the beard to soften hair and protect skin while the razor glides; it must not be allowed to dry on the face.

The direction and pressure of razor travel; with-the-grain strokes cut hair safely, while against-the-grain strokes remove more hair but raise irritation risk.

Razor bumps caused when tightly curled cut hair re-enters the skin and triggers inflammation; managed by shaving with the grain and avoiding close repeated passes.

Planning a beard line and outline that suits the client's face shape, growth pattern, and jawline before any hair is removed.

A small application of color or lightener product on skin or hair, performed before the service as directed, to detect an allergic or adverse reaction.

A test on a small cutting of the client's hair to predict how a color, lightener, or relaxer will perform and how long the process should run.

A hydrogen peroxide solution that, mixed with color or lightener, opens the cuticle and supplies the oxygen needed to develop color or lift pigment.

A strongly alkaline cream or lotion, usually containing sodium hydroxide, that straightens tightly curled hair by breaking and re-forming disulfide bonds.

The acidic second step of a relaxer or permanent wave that stops the chemical action, lowers pH, and rebuilds the disulfide bonds in their new position.

A two-step chemical service that uses a waving lotion to break disulfide bonds around rods and a neutralizer to fix the new curl pattern.

Two relaxer formulations: base relaxers require a protective cream on the scalp, while no-base relaxers are applied directly and demand careful timing to avoid burns.

A light, gliding massage stroke performed with the palms and fingers to warm tissue and begin or end a facial or scalp massage.

A kneading massage movement that lifts and compresses muscle and skin, used after warming strokes to relieve tension in the face, neck, and shoulders.

A structured service of cleansing, exfoliating, massaging, and moisturizing the face, preceded by a skin analysis and adjusted to the client's skin type.

A contagious fungal infection of the skin or scalp, such as ringworm, marked by itching, scaling, or patches of hair loss; it is a contraindication for most services.

The pigment produced in the hair follicle and stored in the cortex that gives hair its natural color and determines how much lightening is needed.

An oil-producing gland attached to the hair follicle that secretes sebum, which lubricates the hair and scalp and helps keep the skin supple.

The credential issued by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners that authorizes a person to practice barbering and to hold themselves out as a licensed barber.

The services and procedures a Missouri barber license legally permits, and the limits beyond which additional licensing or supervision is required.

The standards of honesty, confidentiality, hygiene, and respect for client welfare that guide a barber's conduct, including disclosing risks and declining unsafe services.