Which guard length is used to leave hair a quarter inch long?

The correct choice indicates that a guard length of 2 is used to leave hair a quarter inch long. In hair cutting practices, guard numbers correlate to the length of hair left after cutting; typically, each increment in the guard number increases the hair length left by approximately one-eighth of an inch.

A guard length of 1 usually leaves hair about an eighth of an inch long, which is shorter than a quarter inch. A guard length of 2, however, is designed to leave hair at a quarter inch, making it suitable for those looking for a neatly trimmed look without being too short. A guard length of 3 would leave hair roughly three-eighths of an inch long, and a guard length of 4 would leave it even longer, approximately half an inch.

By understanding how guard lengths work and how they relate to the desired final hair length, it becomes clear why guard length 2 is the correct choice for achieving a quarter inch length.