Colorado Cosmetology Written Practice Exam 2025 - Free Cosmetology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The technique described is overdirection. Overdirection involves lifting the hair away from its natural fall to create a specific shape or length in a haircut. By combing the hair away from its natural position, you're allowing for a greater range of movement in the hair, enabling a stylist to create various styles, add volume, or achieve a certain length in specific areas. This technique is particularly useful in layering hair or when creating styles that require more dramatic shifts in shape.

Cross-checking is a method used to ensure the accuracy of the haircut by checking the cut from different angles, while elevation refers to the angle at which the hair is cut in relation to the head—both concepts do not focus on combing the hair away from its natural fall. Texturizing is the process of modifying the texture of the hair, such as removing bulk or creating movement, which is also not related to the initial technique of combing away from the natural falling position. Therefore, overdirection is the most accurate term for this specific technique in hair cutting.