What is the purpose of using a cape during a haircut?

Using a cape during a haircut serves primarily to keep hair off the client’s clothes. This practice is essential for ensuring that the client remains comfortable and clean throughout the haircutting process. When hair is cut, it can easily fall onto the clothing, which may lead to itching or discomfort. The cape effectively collects the fallen hair and prevents it from getting onto the client's attire, making the experience more pleasant.

While the other options may have their own significance in a barbering or salon environment, they do not directly relate to the primary function of a cape during a haircut. Promoting privacy is generally achieved through the layout of the salon or by using partitions, not the cape itself. Holding tools could refer to various storage methods or stylist belts rather than the cape. Protecting the floor, while important, is managed with other means such as mats or cleanup practices, rather than through the use of a cape. Thus, the main role of the cape in this context is to ensure the client's clothing remains free of hair during the haircut.