California Barber Written ExamShaving ServicesHard
A barber is performing a facial hair trim and notices an ingrown hair on the client's neck. What is the most appropriate and sanitary action to take?
- AInform the client and advise them on proper home care, avoiding the area.
- BApply an antiseptic and continue trimming as normal.
- CAttempt to extract the hair immediately with sterilized tweezers.
- DShave over the ingrown hair carefully to remove it.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Inform the client and advise them on proper home care, avoiding the area.
Barbers are generally not permitted to perform procedures that penetrate the skin, such as extracting ingrown hairs, as this falls outside their scope of practice and carries a risk of infection. The correct action is to inform the client and advise on home care, while carefully avoiding the area during the service.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Applying antiseptic is good, but continuing to trim over it doesn't resolve the issue and could exacerbate it; the area should ideally be avoided.
- C. Extracting an ingrown hair penetrates the skin and is outside the scope of practice for a barber, risking infection.
- D. Shaving over an ingrown hair can worsen the condition, cause irritation, or lead to infection.
Ingrown Hair Protocol
When encountering an ingrown hair, a barber should inform the client, advise on home care, and avoid manipulating or shaving over the affected area to prevent infection.
- Avoid skin penetration
- Risk of infection
- Advise, don't treat
- Stay within scope of practice
Memory trick: Ingrown hair? Inform and advise, but never, ever, try to revise.