Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Consult with client and assess hair.
   • Access and review any existing client hair reformation history or create for new clients.
   • Determine, through discussion and questioning, nature of client dissatisfaction with current degree of hair curl or wave.
   • Discuss client preferences, and expectations of desired degree of relaxation of curl or wave using visual aids to assist.
   • Engage client in discussion about lifestyle and self-care factors that may impact on success of chemical reformation treatment.
   • Visually and physically examine and analyse client hair characteristics and condition.
   • Identify contraindications to proceeding with chemical reformation treatment and explain any present to client.
   • Consider the interplay of the elements and principles of hair design to visualise, communicate and recommend hair straightening treatments appropriate for the client.
   • Obtain client agreement to proceed with recommended straightening services.
2. Select products and prepare for service.
   • Use knowledge of hair biology and cosmetic chemistry, as it applies to hair reformation treatments, to ensure effective and safe use of straightening chemicals.
   • Select chemical straightening, relaxing and matching neutralising products according to hair analysis to achieve desired degree of relaxation of curl or wave.
   • Select and prepare equipment according to product instructions and relaxation methods to be used.
   • Take personal precautions to prevent own skin reactions to reformation chemicals throughout preparation and reformation service.
   • Measure and prepare reformation chemicals, according to product instructions and ensure minimal wastage.
   • Apply wraps, towels and skin barrier cream to ensure client protection and safety.
3. Apply chemical straightening and relaxing products.
   • Maintain client and operator comfort and safety throughout reformation service according to organisational procedures.
   • Apply pre-process fillers according to product instructions, where consistent with hair analysis.
   • Apply chemical straightening product evenly in a predetermined pattern and gently comb hair without stretch.
   • Time processing of reformation products, according to product instructions, check at regular intervals and judge when desired degree of relaxation is achieved.
   • Prior to final development, gently smooth hair in a predetermined pattern using recommended smoothing technique indicated in product instructions.
4. Rinse, neutralise and condition hair.
   • Rinse hair thoroughly and evenly using tepid water to remove residual reformation chemicals.
   • Complete the rebonding process using recommended smoothing technique indicated in product instructions.
   • Measure, apply and process neutralising products, according to product instructions.
   • Rinse hair thoroughly to remove residual neutralising chemicals after specified product instruction processing time.
   • Apply conditioning products, according to product instructions.
   • Use water resources efficiently during service and safely dispose of hazardous and other waste according to organisational procedures.
5. Review service and provide home care advice.
   • Review service outcomes against client expectations and confirm client satisfaction with degree of relaxation of curl or wave.
   • Propose remedial action in response to any client concerns and post service analysis of hair condition and appearance.
   • Reach agreement with client on proposed solutions through positive and open communication.
   • Advise on after service maintenance and recommend home care products.
   • Update client history to include full details of reformation service.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

consult with at least four clients, each with different hair straightening needs, and cumulatively complete these treatments which consistently achieve the planned degree of hair straightening or relaxation and without hair breakage:

chemical treatments on untreated natural curly or wavy hair

chemical treatments on chemically treated hair

chemical treatments on strong or resistant natural curls

for each client, complete a pre-treatment hair analysis covering the following characteristics to recommend appropriate chemical straightening treatments:

hair and scalp condition

hair texture

hair density

hair porosity

degree of curl or wave

length of hair

effects on hair of previous chemical services

record the following details of the chemical straightening service in the history for each client serviced:

pre-service hair analysis

contraindications

desired degree of relaxation

products, strengths and processing times used

straightening methods used

degree of relaxation achieved

recommended home care products.

---

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

key characteristics and interrelationships of the elements and principles of hair design and use in achieving hair straightening and relaxation effects;

elements of hair design:

line

shape

direction

size

texture

colour

principles of hair design:

balance

gradation

repetition

contrast

harmony

dominance

unity

hair biology, at an elementary level of understanding:

main functions and role of hair

main factors contributing to degree of curl or wave in hair

structure and cellular features of hair and hair follicles

process of hair growth and the hair growth cycle

characteristics of normal and damaged hair

physical effects of chemical products and treatments on the skin

main structure, functions and role of the skin and glands:

skin surface anatomy

major epidermal appendages and dermal structures

major cells of the epidermis

role of vascular, connective and nervous tissue in the dermis

distribution and development of skin glands

production, composition and functions of sebum

production, composition and functions of eccrine and apocrine sweat fluids

basic concepts of cosmetic chemistry, as they apply to effective and safe use of chemical straightening products:

bonds

molecules

chemical compounds

chemical change

neutralisation

acids and bases

pH

at an elementary level of understanding, the chemical and physical effects on hair structure and bonds, texture and curl or wave of:

protein fillers

chemical straightening and relaxing products

post-process conditioners

neutralisers

application of heat

key factors that influence degree of relaxation achieved:

hair porosity

hair condition

degree of initial curl or wave

product type and strength

processing time

environmental humidity

smoothing and re-bonding methods

contraindications to using chemical hair straightening products:

abnormal scalp conditions, including broken or weeping areas of skin

hair or scalp damage from previous chemical hair treatments

highly porous hair

resistant hair

organisation’s chemical hair straightening products range:

strengths and formulation

product purpose

action on the hair

application instructions

processing times

role and basic content of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or plain English workplace documents or diagrams that interpret SDS content

basic aspects of local government, state or territory health regulations applicable to providing chemical hair reformation services

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

client comfort and safety with particular emphasis on:

using gown and towels to protect client clothes

application of barrier creams to face and neckline

avoiding product contact with eyes

avoiding hair breakage by application 1cm from hair root

monitoring client scalp comfort and condition

work health and safety for providing chemical hair straightening treatments, with particular emphasis on:

avoiding product contact with operator eyes and skin

avoiding inhalation of fumes during product preparation and application

using correct posture and adjusting height of client chair to avoid fatigue and injury

using correct techniques to hold, grip and manipulate hair reformation tools to avoid fatigue and injury

minimising wastage of chemical straightening products

water efficiency

waste disposal with particular emphasis on environmentally sound disposal methods for hazardous and other hairdressing waste.

---