The exam at a glance
- 120multiple-choice questions
- 70%pass mark (84 of 120 correct)
- 4 hourswriting time
- ~2.0 minper question on average
Every question has four options and one correct answer. There are no trick questions, and every question is worth one mark. Check the official page for any reference material provided at the sitting.
Question types: knowledge and recall 10–20%, procedural and application 75–85%, critical thinking under 10%.
What's on the exam
The questions follow the Hairstylist Red Seal Occupational Standard, grouped into major work activities. The biggest blocks are Alters hair colour (25), Cuts hair (24), Performs chemical texture services on hair (17).
| Block | Major work activity | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 14 | 12% |
| B | Performs hair and scalp care | 11 | 9% |
| C | Cuts hair | 24 | 20% |
| D | Styles hair | 16 | 13% |
| E | Performs chemical texture services on hair | 17 | 14% |
| F | Alters hair colour | 25 | 21% |
| G | Performs specialized services | 6 | 5% |
| H | Performs salon operations | 7 | 6% |
| Total | 120 | 100% |
How to study
- Colour (F, 25) and cutting (C, 24) are over 40% of the exam. Know the level system, underlying pigment, developer volumes and colour correction steps.
- Up to 85% of questions are procedural. Learn the steps for perms, relaxers, lightening and corrections in order, including the tests you do first.
- Know cutting by elevation, guideline and over-direction, and what shape each one gives. Sketch the head form and practise naming the result.
- Don't skip sanitation and client care (A and B). Disinfection steps and scalp conditions are quick marks.
- Do the free self-assessment on the official exam page and spend your time on the tasks you rated lowest, weighted by how many questions they carry.
- Practise every day in short sets. When you get one wrong, work out why each wrong option is wrong, not just which one is right.
Try 3 sample questions
These are original practice questions from our Hairstylist question bank, not real exam questions.
Question 1 · Hair & scalp analysis
How do you check hair porosity?
- A. Pull a hair to see how much it stretches
- B. Feel the scalp oil
- C. Slide your fingers up a strand from end to scalp and feel for roughness
- D. Look at the colour
Show the answer
C. Slide your fingers up a strand from end to scalp and feel for roughness
A rough feel means the cuticle is lifted and the hair is more porous. Smooth means low porosity.
Question 2 · Haircutting
A client wants long layers that are shortest on top and longest at the perimeter. All the hair is lifted straight up from the top of the head. What elevation is that, and what does it give?
- A. 180°: long layers, shorter on top and longer at the perimeter
- B. 90°: uniform layers, all cut the same length from the scalp
- C. 45°: heavy graduation at the nape
- D. 0°: a blunt one-length cut
Show the answer
A. 180°: long layers, shorter on top and longer at the perimeter
Lifting the hair straight up and cutting makes the top short and the perimeter long, for movement and length.
Question 3 · Perms
Which perm is usually better for colour-treated or fragile hair?
- A. A bleach bath
- B. An acid perm
- C. A strong alkaline perm
- D. A hydroxide relaxer
Show the answer
B. An acid perm
Acid perms work at a lower pH and are gentler, so they suit hair that's coloured or damaged.
Every question in every trade is free for everyone until Dec 1. No sign-up needed.
Try 10 questions free, no account needed. Every question has a plain-language explanation.
Start practisingSources
- Red Seal Program: Hairstylist exam information (number of questions, breakdown, question types)
- Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide (70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, format)
- SkilledTradesBC: What to expect on exam day (four-hour time limit, materials provided)
Checked October 2026. Exam details can change, so confirm with the official page and your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority before you write. RedSkillTrade is an independent study tool and isn't affiliated with the Red Seal Program.
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