Ace the North Carolina Barber Exam 2025 – Snip, Style, and Shine!

A haircut should be billed as a ‘dry cut’ when the hair is cut without being washed or dampened beforehand. This practice is often favored in certain scenarios, such as when the stylist is working with hair that has not been prepped with water or products. A dry cut can offer more precision in certain styles, allow the stylist to better see the natural fall of the hair, and help in assessing the hair’s texture and shape without the alteration that moisture can cause.

In situations where a client requests a quicker service or has already styled their hair, this does not necessarily dictate whether the cut should be classified as a dry cut. The key factor is the state of the hair at the time of cutting, rather than the client's preferences or hairstyle. Additionally, the length of the hair does not determine whether a haircut qualifies as a dry cut since the classification is based strictly on whether the hair is washed or dampened.