Barber Haircutting & Head Shaving Practice Questions
Haircutting & Head Shaving 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. Cutting hair at 0 degrees of elevation creates:
- A.Maximum volume
- B.A weight line
- C.Uniform layers
- D.A long layered look
Answer: B. At 0 degrees the hair falls naturally and is cut where it lies, building weight at the perimeter for a blunt line.
2. Cutting hair at 90 degrees of elevation creates:
- A.A one-length bob
- B.A heavy perimeter
- C.A blunt weight line
- D.Uniform layers
Answer: D. Holding the hair straight out from the head at 90 degrees and cutting parallel to the head form gives layers of equal length.
3. A guideline that moves with each new section is a:
- A.Traveling guide
- B.Weight guide
- C.Stationary guide
- D.Perimeter guide
Answer: A. A traveling (movable) guide is a small piece of the previous section taken into the next. A stationary guide stays in one place and all hair is brought to it.
4. Which reference point separates the top of the head from the sides?
- A.Apex of the head
- B.Nape hairline
- C.Parietal ridge
- D.Occipital bone
Answer: C. The parietal ridge (crest) is the widest part of the head, where it starts to curve down. It shows where the top ends and the sides begin.
5. The crown is the area of the head just behind the:
- A.Occipital bone
- B.Front hairline
- C.Apex
- D.Nape
Answer: C. The apex is the highest point on top of the head and the crown sits just behind it. The occipital bone is lower, at the back of the head.
6. Which technique is used to cut short hair on the sides close to the scalp with a comb as a guide?
- A.Clipper-over-comb
- B.Slide cutting
- C.Point cutting
- D.Fingers-and-shear
Answer: A. In clipper-over-comb, the comb lifts and angles the hair and the clipper cuts along the teeth, ideal for tapers.
7. A taper in which the hair blends from longer on top to the bare skin at the bottom is a:
- A.Blunt cut
- B.Bob
- C.Flattop
- D.Fade
Answer: D. A fade blends the hair down to the skin. A taper may stop above the skin and leave some length at the hairline.
8. Why should curly hair be left longer than the desired finished length?
- A.It frizzes after cutting
- B.It shrinks as it dries
- C.It grows faster when cut
- D.It is always finer
Answer: B. Curly hair springs up when dry, so cutting wet hair to the final length leaves it much shorter than planned.
9. A razor should be used for cutting on hair that is:
- A.Freshly permed
- B.Wet
- C.Dry
- D.Freshly colored
Answer: B. Razor cutting on dry hair pulls and can hurt the client and damage the ends. Keep the hair damp while razor cutting.
10. Outlining the hairline around the ears is done with:
- A.A wide-tooth comb
- B.A heated pressing comb
- C.Thinning shears
- D.Trimmers or a razor
Answer: D. Outlining sharpens the edges around the ears, sideburns and nape with trimmers or a razor.
Practice all 28 haircutting & head shaving 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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