Florida Barber License Practice Test

What hair condition is commonly described as weak or brittle hair?

1. Trichotillomania

2. Trichorrhexis

3. Trichoptilosis

4. Hypotrichosis

The correct answer is: Trichorrhexis

The condition commonly described as weak or brittle hair is trichorrhexis. This term specifically refers to a hair shaft defect that causes the hair to be prone to splitting or breaking, often leading to the appearance of brittle hair. Hair affected by trichorrhexis typically has imperfections along the hair fibers, which may be due to various factors including damage from environmental exposure, chemical treatments, or physical stress. Trichotillomania is a compulsive disorder that involves the repetitive pulling out of one's hair, which does not directly relate to hair brittleness but rather to hair loss. Trichoptilosis, often known as split ends, describes the splitting of the hair fiber at the ends, which can also imply weakness but is more specific to the hair's tips rather than the entire hair shaft. Hypotrichosis is a condition characterized by a lack of hair or fewer hair follicles than normal, which does not pertain directly to the strength or brittleness of existing hair.