A career in hairdressing could be right for you if you have creativity, flair, an eye for detail and a passion for excellent customer service. Our training hair salons are run in partnership with Wella; offering access to the latest products and training for all students.
Career opportunities are varied: you could become a self-employed stylist or salon owner, or develop your technical skills in specialist areas such as colouring, extensions, African hair styling, wedding hair styling, and many more.
In addition to gaining valuable work experience both within and outside of our on-site training salons, you will learn a range of key skills and techniques required in hairdressing, including health and safety, advising and communicating with clients, and stock control and management.
You will also visit other local salons, attend masterclasses, visit trade exhibitions, and take part in competitions to boost your skills, knowledge and creativity.
Upon successful completion of the Level 1 Certificate, you can progress on to a Level 2 Hairdressing programme at Guildford College.
What you'll learn
You will gain an understanding of the basic principles of:
- health and safety
- salon etiquette and decorum
- professional behaviour
- communication skills
- working with others and team building
You will have the opportunity to work in the college salons, supporting other students and dealing with clients in a real commercial environment. There you will also learn the day-to-day skills of:
- how to manage reception
- work with clients and colleagues
- telephone skills
- personal presentation
- taking messages
- making bookings
- calculating money
You will further develop your English, maths and ICT skills to help you to complete your course work and prepare for further study or employment.
You also gain broader personal skills that are vital for success in further study or employment. They include self-confidence, working with others, taking responsibility and time management.
By the end of the course you will have benefited from a valuable insight in future study or careers open to you.
How you'll learn and be assessed
You take part in classroom practical and salon sessions to gain hands-on experience of these treatments.
Approximately one third of your time in college is classroom based and you are set assignments and homework too.
The remaining time is spent in the practical working salon to practise and perform different treatments. There is a strong emphasis on working and learning with others and you also need to be able to work independently.
Learning in our commercial salon you will start to develop the basics of hairdressing.
Individual learning targets are set throughout this course and you receive regular feedback on your progress.
Formal assessment is done by:
- assignments
- case studies
- oral questioning
- practical application
Entry requirements
You need to have GCSE English Language and maths at grade 2 or above
