Barber Anatomy, Hair & Skin Disorders Practice Questions
Anatomy, Hair & Skin Disorders makes up 7 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Barber practice test. Here are 10 of the 28 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on the NIC National Barber Theory Examination outline (bulletin effective June 1, 2025: 60 items, 50 scored, 90 minutes). Original questions. Some states use their own exam; check your board.
1. Melanin, which gives hair its natural color, is found mainly in the:
- A.Arrector pili
- B.Cortex
- C.Cuticle
- D.Medulla
Answer: B. The cortex holds the melanin and most of the keratin, so it gives hair its color, strength and elasticity. The cuticle is the outer layer and the medulla is the core.
2. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is the:
- A.Medulla
- B.Papilla
- C.Cortex
- D.Cuticle
Answer: D. The cuticle is overlapping, scale-like cells that protect the cortex. Alkaline products swell and lift it.
3. Which structure supplies the hair bulb with blood and nutrients?
- A.Dermal papilla
- B.Hair cuticle
- C.Arrector pili
- D.Sebaceous gland
Answer: A. The dermal papilla is a small cone at the base of the follicle that feeds the growing hair. The arrector pili is a muscle; the sebaceous gland makes oil.
4. A hair that is still actively growing from its follicle is in which phase?
- A.Telogen
- B.Exogen
- C.Anagen
- D.Catagen
Answer: C. Anagen is growth, catagen is the short transition, and telogen is the resting phase; exogen is the shedding of the old hair.
5. On average, scalp hair grows about how much per month?
- A.One inch
- B.Two inches
- C.One-half inch
- D.One-eighth inch
Answer: C. Scalp hair grows roughly 1/2 inch (about 1.25 cm) a month, faster in warm weather and slower with age.
6. The diameter of a single hair strand is called its:
- A.Texture
- B.Porosity
- C.Elasticity
- D.Density
Answer: A. Texture is how thick each strand is: coarse, medium or fine. Density is how many hairs there are per square inch.
7. The number of hairs per square inch of scalp is called:
- A.Elasticity
- B.Texture
- C.Porosity
- D.Density
Answer: D. Density is the amount of hair on the scalp. A fine-textured head can still have high density.
8. Hair's ability to absorb moisture is called:
- A.Texture
- B.Porosity
- C.Elasticity
- D.Density
Answer: B. Porosity depends on the condition of the cuticle. Highly porous hair absorbs chemicals quickly and can process too fast.
9. The protein that makes up most of the hair is:
- A.Elastin
- B.Keratin
- C.Collagen
- D.Melanin
Answer: B. Hair is about 90 percent keratin. Melanin is the pigment and collagen is a protein in the dermis.
10. Which side bonds are broken by permanent waves and chemical relaxers?
- A.Salt (ionic) bonds
- B.Peptide bonds
- C.Hydrogen bonds
- D.Disulfide bonds
Answer: D. Disulfide bonds are strong chemical bonds broken only by chemicals. Hydrogen bonds break with water or heat and salt bonds with changes in pH.
Practice all 28 anatomy, hair & skin disorders questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free Barber training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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