CA Law & Licensing
Not publishedof exam
SB 803 ChangesBBC RulesBreEZe PortalLicense RenewalEligibility
Safety & Infection Control
29%of exam
16 CCR RulesEPA DisinfectantsBloodborne PathogensOSHA & SDSHand Hygiene
Client Consultation
2%of exam
Intake FormRelease FormContraindicationsRefusal Conditions
Hair, Scalp & Skin Analysis
11%of exam
Hair StructureGrowth CycleScalp DisordersSkin Disorders
Hairstyling
5%of exam
Blow-Dry ToolsThermal IronsHeat PrecautionsStyling Technique
Haircutting
9%of exam
RazorsShearsTrimmers/EdgersClippersElevation
Chemical Services
18%of exam
RelaxerspH & BondsDeveloper VolumePatch/Strand Tests
Shaving
24%of exam
7 Positions4 StrokesHoning/StroppingPseudofolliculitis
Skin Care
2%of exam
Skin AnalysisFacialsMassageTool Safety
Quick Facts
- Exam
- CA Barber Written (PSI)
- Regulator
- CA Board of Barbering/Cosmetology (BBC)
- Questions
- 95 (85 scored, 10 pretest)
- Time Limit
- 120 minutes
- Passing Score
- 64 of 85 (75%)
- Scoring
- Criterion-referenced
- Training Hours
- 1,000 hours (post-SB 803)
- Practical Exam
- Eliminated January 1, 2022
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese
- License Renewal
- Every 2 years, $50
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Employee
- Employer withholds payroll taxes
- Receives a W-2 form
Contractor (Booth Renter)
- Pays self-employment taxes
- Receives a 1099-NEC form
Classification affects taxes and control
CA Barber Licensing Facts
- BBC
- Licenses barbers under DCA
- Training hours
- 1,000 at approved school
- Apprenticeship option
- Shelley-Maloney Act path
- Min age
- 17 years old
- Min education
- 10th grade or equivalent
- Application fee
- $125 via BreEZe
- Processing time
- 8-12 weeks typical
SB 803 (2022) Changes
- Effective date
- January 1, 2022
- Hours reduced
- 1,500 down to 1,000
- Practical exam
- Eliminated entirely
- 1,600-hour schools
- Must disclose extra hours optional
- Retake wait
- None required
License Renewal Facts
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Renewal fee
- $50
- CE requirement
- None required
- Payment method
- Online via BreEZe
- Re-exam fee
- $125 per attempt
Tool Disinfection Steps
Remove debris, wash, dry, then fully immerse
Remove debrisWash with soapDry the toolImmerse in disinfectant
Disinfecting Shears vs. Other Tools
Shears
- Spray or wipe only
- Never fully immersed
Other Non-Electrical Tools
- Fully immersed required
- Removed with gloves or tongs
Shears are the immersion exception
Which Disinfection Method?
- Non-electrical tool used→Wash, then fully immerse(EPA-registered disinfectant)
- Shears after use→Spray or wipe disinfect(Never immerse shears)
- Electric clippers→Brush hair, spray disinfect(Never submerge in liquid)
- Item cannot be disinfected→Discard after one use(Buffers, sponges, wax sticks)
- Tool contacted blood→Disinfect or discard tool(Before resuming service)
Disinfection Fundamentals
- Sanitation
- Reduces germ numbers
- Disinfection
- Destroys most pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroys all microbial life
- Contact time
- Full label wet-time
- Solution change
- Daily, or if contaminated
- Debris removal
- First step, before disinfecting
16 CCR Tool Disinfection Rules
- EPA-registered
- Bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal
- Non-electrical tools
- Fully immersed before use
- Shears exception
- Sprayed or wiped only
- Removing tools
- Gloves or tongs, never hands
- Clean storage
- Covered, labeled Clean/Disinfected
- Soiled storage
- Labeled Dirty/Soiled/Contaminated
- Single-use items
- Discarded after one client
Bloodborne Exposure Response
- Step 1
- Stop the service immediately
- Step 2
- Put on clean gloves
- Step 3
- Clean wound with antiseptic
- Step 4
- Bandage the wound
- Sharps disposal
- Puncture-resistant labeled container
- HBV vaccine
- Employer must offer it
Regulatory Agencies & Hygiene
- BBC
- Licensing and inspections
- OSHA
- Workplace safety standards
- EPA
- Registers disinfectants under FIFRA
- SDS
- Chemical hazard document, OSHA-required
- Hand wash
- At least 20 seconds
Serve or Refuse the Client?
- Ringworm or lice visible→Refuse service(Contagious, refer to physician)
- Psoriasis or eczema present→Proceed with service(Non-contagious conditions)
- Open sore or fresh cut→Refuse until healed(Infection risk)
- Alopecia areata present→Proceed with service(Autoimmune, not contagious)
- Condition looks unclear→Decline, refer physician(When in doubt)
Consultation & Refusal Rules
- Intake form
- Records client health history
- Release form
- Documents informed consent
- Contraindication
- Condition barring the service
- Refuse & refer
- Suspected contagious condition
- Neck strip
- Barrier between cape, skin
Hair Layer Order Mnemonic
Cuticle protects, cortex colors, medulla is the core
Cuticle = outer shieldCortex = color and strengthMedulla = innermost core
Hair Structure & Growth Cycle
- Cuticle
- Outer protective scale layer
- Cortex
- Pigment, strength, elasticity layer
- Medulla
- Innermost, sometimes absent layer
- Keratin
- Main structural hair protein
- Anagen
- Active growth phase
- Catagen
- Brief transition phase
- Telogen
- Resting, pre-shed phase
Hair Growth Cycle Mnemonic
Anagen grows, catagen transitions, telogen rests
Anagen = active growthCatagen = brief transitionTelogen = resting shed phase
Scalp & Skin Disorders
- Alopecia
- General term for hair loss
- Alopecia areata
- Autoimmune, smooth round patches
- Tinea capitis
- Contagious fungal ringworm, refuse
- Pediculosis capitis
- Head lice, contagious, refuse
- Psoriasis
- Silvery scaled patches, non-contagious
- Eczema
- Itchy inflamed skin, non-contagious
Hairstyling Heat & Tools
- Round brush
- Adds curl and volume
- Paddle brush
- Smooths for straight finish
- Diffuser
- Spreads airflow, reduces frizz
- Heat protectant
- Coats hair before thermal styling
- Fine hair heat
- About 250-300 degrees F
- Coarse hair heat
- Up to about 400 degrees F
Fade vs. Taper
Fade
- Skin-close at the bottom
- Blends with no visible line
Taper
- Gradual, less extreme blend
- Less overall contrast
A fade is an extreme taper
Haircutting Tools & Guards
- Razor
- Closest cut, highest nick risk
- Shears
- Precise blending and shaping
- Trimmers/edgers
- Fine outlining of hairlines
- Clippers
- Fast bulk cutting with guards
- Guard numbers
- Lower number, shorter length
- Blade gap
- About 1/16 inch offset
Haircutting Technique Terms
- Guideline
- First section sets length
- Elevation
- Angle hair held from head
- 0-degree elevation
- Blunt, one-length cut
- 90-degree elevation
- Uniform layers result
- Point cutting
- Shear tips create texture
- Cross-checking
- Comb opposite section direction
Hydroxide vs. Thio Relaxer
Hydroxide
- High pH, 10-14
- Fast processing time
- Strict base protection needed
Thio
- Lower pH, 9-10
- Gentler on the hair
- Needs separate neutralizer step
Match relaxer strength to sensitivity
Which Relaxer or Wave?
- Fast strong straightening needed→Sodium hydroxide relaxer(High pH, 10-14)
- Gentler process acceptable→Thio relaxer(Needs separate neutralizer)
- Firm curl, faster process→Alkaline cold wave(Higher pH, more damage)
- Looser curl, less damage→Acid-balanced wave(Slower, often needs heat)
- Prior metallic dye used→Run a strand test(Risk of breakage)
pH & Hair Bond Chemistry
- pH scale
- 0 to 14, 7 neutral
- Healthy hair/skin pH
- About 4.5 to 5.5
- Hydrogen bonds
- Broken by water, heat
- Disulfide bonds
- Broken only by chemicals
- Alkaline effect
- Swells, opens the cuticle
Alkaline vs. Acid Wave
Alkaline (Cold)
- Higher pH, faster process
- Firmer curl result
Acid-Balanced
- Lower pH, slower process
- Gentler, less hair damage
Firmer curl trades off damage
Chemical Service Testing & Prep
- Patch test
- Checks allergy, 24-48 hours prior
- Strand test
- Checks processing time, result
- Base cream
- Protects scalp before relaxer
- Metallic dye risk
- Can cause breakage, discoloration
- 10-20 volume developer
- Deposits color, minimal lift
- 30-40 volume developer
- Lightens hair more
- Neutralizer
- Stops action, re-hardens bonds
7 Shave Position Sequence
Right side, right neck, chin, left neck, left, lip, front
Right sideRight neckUnder chinLeft neckLeft sideMustache/lipChin/front neck
Honing vs. Stropping
Honing
- Sharpens a dull edge
- Uses a hone stone
- Done infrequently
Stropping
- Aligns and polishes edge
- Uses a leather strop
- Done before every client
Hone rarely, strop every use
Which Shave Stroke to Use?
- Cheek or jaw, with grain→Freehand stroke(Standard cutting position)
- Opposite growth direction area→Backhand stroke(Razor turned around)
- Upper lip or chin→Reverse freehand stroke(Edge faces upward)
- Under jaw or neck→Reverse backhand stroke(Reverse plus backhand)
- Razor feels dull→Hone the blade(Stropping alone won't fix it)
Shaving Prep & Strokes
- Hot towel
- Pre-softens beard, opens pores
- First pass
- With the grain, less irritation
- Freehand stroke
- Standard cutting position
- Backhand stroke
- Razor turned, opposite direction
- Reverse freehand
- Edge faces upward
- Reverse backhand
- Reverse plus turned position
4 Shave Stroke Directions
Freehand, backhand, reverse freehand, reverse backhand
Freehand = standard positionBackhand = turned aroundReverse freehand = edge upReverse backhand = up and turned
Straight Razor vs. Shavette
Straight Razor
- Fixed blade, closest shave
- Needs honing and stropping
Shavette
- Replaceable disposable blade
- Fresh edge per client
Both discard blades after one client
Razor Care & Post-Shave
- Honing
- Sharpens a dull blade edge
- Stropping
- Aligns edge, done each client
- Razor angle
- About 30 degrees to skin
- Shavette
- Disposable blade, no honing
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae
- Curly hair curves into skin
- Post-shave
- Cool towel, then astringent
Facial & Skin Care Terms
- Skin analysis
- Identifies type and conditions
- Extraction
- Removes debris from clogged pores
- Astringent
- Tightens pores after extraction
- Effleurage
- Light gliding massage stroke
- Comedone
- Clogged pore, blackhead/whitehead
Common Traps
Shears Fully Immersed
Wrong, spray or wipe only ≠ Immersion can damage the hinge
CE Credits Required to Renew
Wrong, CA needs none ≠ Just pay $50 every 2 years
Practical Exam Still Required
Wrong since January 2022 ≠ Written PSI exam only now
Stropping Sharpens the Blade
Wrong, stropping only aligns ≠ Honing is what sharpens
1,500 Hours Still Required
Wrong after SB 803 ≠ Now only 1,000 hours
Any Disinfectant Solution Works
Wrong, must be EPA-registered ≠ Needs bactericidal/fungicidal/virucidal claims
Mandatory Wait to Retake
Wrong, no CA waiting period ≠ Reapply anytime with $125 fee
Barber Equals Cosmetology License
Wrong, CA licenses separately ≠ Different scope, same regulating board
Last Minute
- 1.Passing score: 64 correct of 85
- 2.Exam has 95 questions, 120 minutes
- 3.Shears: spray or wipe, never immerse
- 4.SB 803 requires 1,000 training hours
- 5.No continuing education needed to renew
- 6.License renews every 2 years, $50
- 7.No mandatory wait to retake exam
- 8.Healthy hair/skin pH is 4.5-5.5
- 9.Razor angle is about 30 degrees
- 10.Strop every client, hone only rarely
- 11.Single-use items: discard after one client
- 12.Refuse service for ringworm or lice
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