Hairstylist (Red Seal)

Performs common occupational skills

After a haircut, which step protects steel shears from pitting and dull edges during storage?

1. Stand the blades open in disinfectant overnight
2. Wrap the blades closed in a damp towel
3. Leave them on the wet station counter
4. Wipe with a dry cloth and oil the pivot

Steel shears need to be cleaned of hair, dried, and lubricated at the pivot point so the blades move freely and the metal does not corrode. A quick wipe removes debris that can hold moisture against the edge, and a drop of oil at the joint maintains tension and movement. Leaving the shears open in liquid disinfectant overnight damages the temper and rusts the steel. A damp towel keeps water on the blade and promotes pitting. A wet counter holds moisture against the edge and can be a slip hazard for the next user.

RSOS 2019 | A-2.01 Uses manual tools

Performs hair and scalp care

Working from the outside inward, what is the correct order of the three layers of a hair strand?

1. Cuticle, cortex, medulla
2. Outer cuticle, then medulla, then cortex
3. Soft medulla as the outer protective layer
4. Pigmented cortex as the outermost shingle

The outermost layer is the cuticle, a tiled shingle of overlapping scales that protects the strand and controls product penetration. Underneath sits the cortex, the bulk layer that holds keratin and melanin and gives the hair strength, elasticity, and natural colour. At the centre is the medulla, a soft core that may be absent in very fine hair. The other sequences place an inner layer on the outside or swap the middle and centre, which mis-states the architecture stylists rely on when reading porosity, texture, and bond behaviour during analysis.

RSOS 2019 | B-5.01 Analyzes hair and scalp for non-chemical services

Cuts hair

Cutting without elevation produces which result along the perimeter?

1. Stacked graduation that builds up toward the back of the head
2. A blunt line where all strands finish at the same length
3. Internal layers that lift and fall away from the head shape
4. A disconnected interior weight line sitting up at the crown

Cutting at zero elevation lets every strand fall to natural fall, so the perimeter finishes as a blunt line of equal length. This is the foundation of one-length and classic blunt bob shapes. Internal layers require lifting the strand away from the head, which is elevation. Stacked graduation builds when the elevation increases gradually from the nape up. A disconnected weight line at the crown describes a separate interior weight area, which again involves elevating internal panels rather than letting them fall.

RSOS 2019 | C-7.02 Cuts hair without elevation