Barber Implements & Equipment Practice Questions
Implements & Equipment makes up 5 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Barber practice test. Here are 10 of the 20 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. What sets a French-style shear apart from a German-style shear?
- A.No thumb grip
- B.A finger brace
- C.A longer pivot
- D.Thicker blades
Answer: B. French-style shears have a finger brace (tang) for the little finger. German-style shears have none.
2. Shears are held with the thumb and which finger in the finger grip?
- A.Middle finger
- B.Little finger
- C.Index finger
- D.Ring finger
Answer: D. The ring finger goes in the finger grip of the still blade and the little finger rests on the brace. The thumb moves the other blade.
3. Which part of the shears controls blade tension?
- A.Pivot screw
- B.Cutting edge
- C.Finger brace
- D.Thumb grip
Answer: A. The pivot screw joins the blades and sets their tension. Too loose and hair folds; too tight and the shears drag.
4. The main purpose of thinning shears is to:
- A.Outline the nape
- B.Shave the neck
- C.Remove bulk
- D.Cut a weight line
Answer: C. Thinning (texturizing) shears have one notched blade and remove bulk without shortening the overall length.
5. Sharpening a straight razor on a stone is called:
- A.Grinding
- B.Tempering
- C.Honing
- D.Stropping
Answer: C. Honing on a hone creates the cutting edge. Stropping on leather or canvas smooths and aligns the edge afterward.
6. When honing a razor, the stroke is made:
- A.Edge first, heel to point
- B.In small circles
- C.Straight across, edge last
- D.Back first, point to heel
Answer: A. Honing strokes lead with the edge and draw diagonally from heel to point. Stropping is the reverse, back first.
7. When stropping a razor, the razor is drawn:
- A.Point first
- B.Edge first
- C.In circles
- D.Back first
Answer: D. Stropping leads with the back so the edge trails and is polished rather than cut into the leather.
8. Which razor has a disposable blade that is changed for each client?
- A.Conventional straight razor
- B.Changeable-blade razor
- C.Hollow-ground razor
- D.Wedge-ground razor
Answer: B. Changeable-blade straight razors are the standard in most shops because a new blade for each client removes the need to hone and reduces infection risk.
9. A clipper blade size of 000 produces:
- A.A guard-length cut
- B.A very close cut
- C.A long cut
- D.A medium-length cut
Answer: B. Smaller blade numbers cut closer. A 000 blade leaves very little hair and is used for fades and outlining.
10. How should clipper blades be maintained between uses?
- A.Hone them on a stone
- B.Store them in alcohol
- C.Rinse under the hot tap
- D.Clean, disinfect and oil
Answer: D. Remove hair, disinfect with an EPA-registered product for the contact time, and oil the blades so they run cool and smooth.
Practice all 20 implements & equipment 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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