How can a barber assess the condition of a client's hair?

A barber can effectively assess the condition of a client's hair through a thorough visual inspection, focusing on several key qualities such as sheen, elasticity, and texture. Sheen indicates how well the hair reflects light, which can suggest its health and moisture content. Elasticity refers to the hair's ability to stretch and return to its original shape, an important indicator of strength and damage. Texture includes the thickness of the individual strands and can provide insight into the hair's overall health.

While feeling the hair and checking for dryness is beneficial, it does not encompass the comprehensive evaluation that visual inspection provides. The color of the hair, while sometimes revealing about overall health, cannot be relied upon alone to determine its condition. A smell test is not a standard method for assessing hair health as it does not provide measurable information about the hair's physical state. Thus, visually inspecting these various aspects gives a barber a more complete understanding of the client's hair condition, leading to better service and care recommendations.