Alabama Cosmetology Licensing Practice Exam

Creating a layered haircut primarily involves the graduation or elevation methods. This technique allows the stylist to lift sections of hair at various angles, which results in different lengths throughout the hair. By elevating the hair, the stylist enhances movement and dimension within the style, producing those distinct layers that characterize this haircut.

Graduation refers to the way hair lengths gradually change, contributing to a sense of layering. By controlling the degree of elevation, the stylist can manipulate how pronounced or subtle the layers are, achieving a look that suits the client's features and preferences. This method is essential for producing that soft, blended effect that layers are known for, rather than a harsh or blunt cut that lacks movement.

While techniques like blunt cutting, thinning, and texturizing play essential roles in hair design, they do not effectively create layers in the same manner. Blunt cutting creates a solid, even line across the hair, while thinning is used to reduce bulk and weight in hair. Texturizing, on the other hand, involves cutting techniques that add softness and movement but does not specifically refer to creating layers. Each of these methods serves distinct purposes within hairstyling, but for layering, the graduation or elevation is the technique that directly achieves this desired outcome.