Arizona Barber Practice Exam

The cortex is a part of hair structure that surrounds the medulla and is responsible for the hair's elasticity and strength. The hair cortex contains proteins and pigments that give hair its color and make it resilient. Barring any severe damage or disease, the cortex is mostly intact in most hair strands and accounts for about 90% of a hair's weight. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the contribution of the cortex to hair's weight. Option A (50%) would suggest that the cortex is only half of the hair's weight which is significantly understating its importance. Option B (75%) is a closer estimate but still not completely accurate. Option D (100%) suggests that the cortex is the entire hair which is also not true as the hair also has a protective outer layer called the cuticle.