Cosmetology · Haircutting Principles

In haircutting, what does the term 'elevation' (projection) refer to?

Correct answer

The angle at which the hair is held away from the head before cutting

  1. A The angle at which the hair is held away from the head before cutting
  2. B The length of the scissors
  3. C The price of the cut
  4. D The client's height

Why this is the answer

Elevation, also called projection, refers to the angle at which a section of hair is lifted or held away from the head before it is cut. Elevation controls the amount of graduation or layering in a cut: cutting at 0 degrees (no elevation) creates blunt, one-length results, while higher elevations create graduation and layers. Understanding elevation is central to haircutting theory because it determines the shape and structure of the finished cut. The concept is reliably tested on the exam.
Source: Hair Care — Elevation

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About this topic: Haircutting Principles

Haircutting principles cover the fundamentals: sections, elevation, over-direction, guidelines, cutting lines and the four basic cuts (blunt, graduated, layered, long-layered). Expect questions on which elevation produces which result. This is one of 10 Hair Care questions on haircutting principles, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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