This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to research local and international current and emerging hair fashion trends, develop creative hair designs and cut hair creatively into combined structures.

This unit applies to senior hairdressers and barbers who work in salons or as session stylists or technical advisors to product companies. They work independently, have considerable specialist skills and knowledge and provide technical leadership, training and support to team members.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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

complete a research project, using information from at least three different sources, to identify and explore creative haircut designs and:

write a brief report on current and emerging trends

compile a portfolio of at least six creative haircut designs

for each of the six designs complete an analysis and develop a haircut plan using a 2-D structural graphic representation showing:

structure of the design

interior and exterior design lines

soft or hard lines

starting point of haircut

sectioning and parting patterns

angles of lift in degrees

distribution of hair

cutting techniques

consult with at least four clients and complete an analysis covering the following characteristics to design and recommend appropriate creative haircuts:

facial features and bone structure

natural hair type

hair texture

hair density

growth patterns

fall and movement

complete creative haircuts on the above clients which each combine at least two of the following features:

solid structures

graduated structures

layered structures

tapered structures

square shapes

textured areas

straight lines

curved lines

soft lines

hard lines

use at least four of these cutting techniques cumulatively across the haircuts completed:

blunt cutting

pointing

notching

slicing

end tapering

strand tapering

scissor-over-comb

clipper-over-comb

serrated scissors over-comb thinning

razor rotation

record the following details of the hair cutting service for each client in own portfolio:

pre-service analysis

client preferences and adaptions of own designs

outcomes achieved.

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

different facial shapes and haircut designs which best complement particular shapes

characteristics of the following hair features, how these will impact on finished haircuts involving structural combinations and how creative designs can enhance or accentuate:

natural hair types:

European

Asian

Euro-Asian

African

hair texture:

coarse

medium

fine

hair movement:

straight

wavy

natural curl

chemical curl or waves

natural distribution and growth patterns of hair:

crown area

hairline

neckline

cowlicks (whorls)

creative shapes, structure and texture for haircuts that combine two or more haircut structures:

solid

graduated

layered

tapered

proportional, symmetrical and asymmetrical structures and how these can be combined for creative effect

starting point, sectioning and parting patterns and the impact on the finished result for haircuts involving structural combinations

techniques used to create texture and blend or accentuate haircut structures

contents and formats for haircut plans

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

client comfort, safety and hygiene with particular emphasis on:

using gowns to protect client clothes

monitoring client comfort

preventing cross-transmission of infection between customers

work health, safety and hygiene for haircutting, with particular emphasis on:

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

using correct techniques to hold, grip and manipulate cutting tools and combs to avoid fatigue and injury

preventing cross-transmission of infection during customer contact

minimising product wastage

waste disposal with particular emphasis on environmentally sound disposal methods for hair waste.

Skills must be demonstrated in a hairdressing or barbering environment; this can be:

a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace, or

a simulated hairdressing or barbering workplace, set up for the purpose of skills assessment that provides services to paying members of the public, or

industry venues and sites where session events are operated, or

session venues and sites operated within a training organisation where real session events are staged in live time.

Assessment must ensure use of:

clients, with different haircutting requirements; these can be:

paying clients in a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace, or

paying clients in a simulated hairdressing or barbering workplace within a training organisation who have the expectation that the services provided reflect those of a commercial business

models or performers in a session styling setting

sufficient client traffic to allow for prioritisation of tasks so that clients are serviced effectively in a logical sequence

activities that require the individual to work with commercial speed, timing and productivity to:

deal with multiple tasks simultaneously

complete client services within designated timeframes that reflect accepted industry practice

a hairdressing or barbering services workstation with:

one mirror per workstation

one adjustable client services chair per workstation

one blow dryer with heat diffuser per workstation

electric clippers and attachments

hairdressing chisels

clean client gowns or wraps

professional styling and finishing products which can be:

gels

glazes

lotions

mousses

setting lotions

sprays

waxes

one operator trolley per workstation stocked with:

haircutting scissors

texturising and thinning shears

disposable blade safety razors

disposable razor blades

combs:

cutting combs with fine and coarse ends

tapering

brushes:

Denman style

round

vent

sectioning clips

disinfectant products for hairdressing tools

lubricants and coolants for electric clippers

product instructions

template haircut plans.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors; and:

hold a Certificate IV qualification in Hairdressing, or be able to demonstrate equivalence of competencies; and

have at least three years full time employment experience as a hairdresser in a salon environment where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency to assess this unit as part of a hairdressing qualification; this cannot include any indentured traineeship or apprenticeship period; or

have at least three years full time employment experience as a barber in a shop or salon environment where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency to assess this unit as part of a barbering qualification; this cannot include any indentured traineeship or apprenticeship period.

Hairdressing

Haircutting