New Jersey Cosmetology and Hairstyling Practice Exam

Backcombing, also known as teasing, is a technique specifically designed to create volume in the hair. This method involves combing the hair toward the scalp, which creates a cushion of hair and lifts the strands away from the scalp, resulting in an overall fuller appearance. By gently working the comb through the hair in a downward motion, the individual hairs split and interlock, leading to increased height and volume.

While perming can create texture and waves that may contribute to volume, it fundamentally alters the hair's structure and is not primarily aimed at adding volume in the same immediate way as backcombing. Curling can also create body and movement, but it does not provide the same foundational lift at the roots that backcombing does. Smoothing focuses more on eliminating frizz and creating a sleek look, which goes against the goal of enhancing volume. Thus, backcombing stands out as the most effective technique for achieving volume during hairstyling.