South Carolina Barber Practice Exam 2025 - Free Barber Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct angle for cutting layering in hair is 45 degrees. This angle is commonly used to create soft layers that blend well into the overall hairstyle. At a 45-degree angle, the stylist can achieve a gradual layering effect, allowing hair to fall naturally and providing volume and movement.

Using a 45-degree angle helps particularly when cutting the hair in sections, as it allows for the ends of the hair to be elevated slightly, which creates that layered look. The hair that is cut at this angle will have a softer and more blended finish compared to steeper angles, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing hairstyle.

In contrast, other angles such as 90 degrees are typically used for more uniform or blunt cuts, while 180 degrees may result in very long layers with significant disparity in length. A 30-degree angle would create a more subtle layering effect, which may not provide the desired layer definition. Thus, 45 degrees is the optimal choice for effective layering in haircuts.