The combination of the size of the base in relation to the diameter of the tool and the position of the tool in relation to the base is called:

• A. Base control
• B. Tool balance
• C. Design ratio
• D. Angle setting

Answer: (A)

Base control describes how the base size and the tool’s position relative to that base work together to shape the curl. The base size is how much hair sits on the barrel, and the tool’s diameter sets how tightly that hair can wrap. A larger base relative to the tool yields a looser curl, while a smaller base produces a tighter curl. The position of the tool—whether wrapped on the base, half-base, or off-base—determines the curl’s direction and lift: on-base gives the most curvature and volume at the base, off-base gives a softer curl with less lift. Taken together, this combination is what controls how the curl forms from the base outward.