✓ TradeExamPro

TradeExamPro › Beauty & Barber

Barber written practice test

258 free practice questions for this exam, each with the reason for the answer and where to look it up.

Barber theory: practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

Practice tests that prepare you for this exam

Barber theory

Infection control, implements and tools, shaving, haircutting and clipper work, hair and skin science, and chemical services for barber written exams.

173 questions for this exam

Cosmetology theory

Infection control, hair and scalp, hair cutting, colouring and chemical texture services, skin care, nail care and professional practice for cosmetology written exams.

85 questions for this exam

About the exam

ExamBarber written
Who runs itNIC, state boards
WhereUnited States (varies by state)

Question count, time limit and pass mark differ by where you take it. Check the official candidate bulletin from the organisation that runs your exam.

Sample questions

Which side bonds must be broken chemically to change the natural curl pattern of hair permanently?

  1. Hydrogen bonds
  2. Disulfide bonds
  3. Salt bonds
  4. Peptide bonds
Show the answer

B. Disulfide bonds

Disulfide bonds are the strong chemical side bonds; permanent waving and relaxing work by breaking them. Hydrogen bonds are broken by water alone, which only gives a temporary change such as a wet set.

Reference: Barbering theory: chemical services (chemistry of texture services)

Hair is built from the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur. Which of these forms the cross-links of a disulfide bond?

  1. Carbon
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Oxygen
  4. Sulfur
Show the answer

D. Sulfur

A disulfide bond joins the sulfur atoms of two cysteine amino acids on neighboring protein chains. Carbon is the most abundant element in hair, but it does not form these side bonds.

Reference: Barbering theory: properties and disorders of the hair and scalp (chemical composition)

What distinguishes a skin (bald) fade from other tapered cuts?

  1. The hair is left at a #2 guard length around the hairline
  2. The top is cut flat and level, like the bristles of a stiff brush
  3. The neckline is squared off with a hard line at the nape
  4. The hair blends all the way down to bare skin at the bottom
Show the answer

D. The hair blends all the way down to bare skin at the bottom

In a skin fade the shortest area is taken to the skin and the length builds gradually upward with no visible line. A squared nape with a hard line is a blocked neckline, which is the opposite of a faded finish.

Reference: Barbering theory: men's haircutting (fades)

Taking this exam?

Tell us where and when you are taking it, and what you want more of. It decides what we write next.

Other beauty & barber exams with practice tests

Cosmetology written (NIC theory) · Esthetician written · Nail technician written · Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination