Wisconsin Barber Practice Exam

When cutting curly hair, understanding shrinkage and curl pattern is crucial. Curly hair tends to shrink up to 50% of its length when dry, which means that the way the hair looks when wet can drastically change once it dries. Therefore, a stylist must account for this shrinkage to achieve the desired length and shape in the final hairstyle.

Additionally, recognizing the curl pattern is important because different curl types may require different cutting techniques to enhance the natural curl, maintain volume, and avoid creating unwanted shapes or frizz. Each curl pattern reacts uniquely to cutting methods, so understanding these dynamics helps in providing a cut that suits the client's hair type.

Other considerations, such as color application or focusing solely on length, may be relevant but do not address the specific challenges that come with cutting curly hair. Similarly, using only straight cutting techniques might not be effective, as these methods may not accommodate the natural texture and movement of curls.