Elements and Performance Criteria
- Consult with client and assess hair.
- Determine, through discussion and questioning, client satisfaction or dissatisfaction with current haircut structure.
- Discuss client preferences, and expectations of desired finished result using visual aids to assist.
- Engage client in discussion about lifestyle and self-care factors that may impact on success of haircut design.
- Visually and physically examine and analyse client hair characteristics and existing haircut structure.
- Evaluate client facial features and bone structure for suitable complementary haircut designs.
- Consider all factors to visualise, communicate and recommend haircut designs appropriate for the client.
- Determine the best design and obtain client agreement to proceed with recommended haircut structure.
- Select equipment and prepare for service.
- Cut hair into combined structures.
- Maintain client and operator comfort, safety and hygiene throughout haircutting service according to organisational procedures.
- Position and adjust client head and neck during service to enable access and achieve required angles of lift.
- Section and secure hair to divide into manageable and controllable areas.
- Establish external design guidelines, direction of design lines and internal design lines according to desired hair length and component haircut structure and cross-check throughout service.
- Take clean sections, using appropriate angles of lift and distribution suited to the component haircut structure.
- Apply even lift tension, use cutting tool at appropriate angle to parting lines and cut hair using techniques suited to the component haircut structure.
- Position cutting hand with palm toward or away, up or down according to operator comfort, length of hair, and line and area of head being cut.
- Maintain evenly wet or dry hair and follow a logical sectioning and parting pattern to combine or blend haircut structures, according to the planned design.
- Outline haircuts.
- Use clippers or scissors to mark haircut outlines over and behind ears to suit haircut.
- Use clippers to outline sideburns, where present.
- Use clippers or razors in direction of hair growth to create planned neckline shape and length.
- Clean or dispose of equipment and dispose of hair waste according to health regulations and organisational procedures.
- Finish hair to shape and review service.
- Select finishing tools, products and techniques and use to finish planned haircut designs to client satisfaction.
- Review service outcomes against client design expectations and confirm client satisfaction with result.
- Propose remedial action in response to any client concerns and post service analysis of hair design appearance.
- Reach agreement with client on proposed solutions through positive and open communication.
- Advise on after service maintenance and recommend home care products.