What should barbers understand about hair growth?

Barbers should have a solid understanding of the hair growth cycle, which consists of three distinct phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen.

The anagen phase is the active growth phase of hair follicles, during which hair strands are formed and can grow for several years, leading to longer hair. The catagen phase is a transitional stage that lasts a few weeks where hair growth slows down, and the hair follicle begins to shrink. Finally, the telogen phase is the resting phase, where hair is shed and eventually falls out, making way for new hairs to grow from the follicles in the subsequent anagen phase.

Understanding these phases is crucial for barbers because it helps them make informed decisions when it comes to haircuts, treatments, and caring for clients' hair. Knowledge of this cycle allows barbers to explain hair growth patterns and the expected outcomes of various styling techniques to their clients. Properly understanding hair growth phases also helps inform how to approach issues such as hair thinning or loss with clients, enabling barbers to provide appropriate advice or referrals.

The other choices, while related to hair and styling, do not corelate as directly to the biological understanding that is integral for a barber's daily practice and expertise in hair