This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to consult with clients and analyse beard, moustache and facial characteristics to design, recommend and complete a range of complementary styles. It also involves ongoing maintenance of styles.

This unit applies to hairdressers and barbers with well-developed skills who work in hairdressing salons or barber shops. They use discretion and judgement to manage the client service and take responsibility for the outcomes of their work.

In some Australian states and territories, the use of straight razors is prohibited. No occupational licensing, certification or other 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:

consult with at least five clients, each with different beard and moustache maintenance needs, recommend appropriate designs and complete services which consistently achieve desired outcomes to client satisfaction

for each client, complete a pre-service analysis covering the following characteristics to determine service requirements:

facial features and bone structure

hair texture

hair density

growth patterns of facial and neck hair

blemishes or moles

integrate the use of health, safety and hygiene practices and procedures and use these cutting techniques cumulatively across the services completed:

scissor over-comb

clipper over-comb

clippers with comb guards

shaving.

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 creating effects which balance and emphasise facial characteristics;

elements of hair design:

line

shape

direction

size

texture

colour

principles of hair design:

balance

gradation

repetition

contrast

harmony

dominance

unity

characteristics of the following beard, moustache, facial and skin features, how these will impact on the finished cut and appropriate designs for best outcomes:

facial shape and bone structure

hair texture:

coarse

medium

fine

hair density

natural distribution and growth patterns of facial and neck hair

blemishes or moles

shapes and structure for beards and moustaches

relationship between size of the comb and finished effect

the effects on skin and facial hair of:

pre-conditioning products and hot towels

after-shave conditioning products and cold towels

shaving patterns and directions, in relation to hair growth, and the impact on the finished result

cleaning techniques and uses of cleaning and disinfection products for beard and moustache cutting equipment

basic aspects of local government, state or territory health regulations for:

hygiene and infection control for beard and moustache maintenance

skin penetration

use of razor types, with emphasis on the prohibition of straight razor use

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 combs, cutting and shaving tools to avoid fatigue and injury

preventing cross-transmission of infection during customer contact

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.

Assessment must ensure use of:

paying clients with different beard and moustache maintenance requirements; these can be:

clients in a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace, or

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

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

basins with hot and cold running water and adjustable temperature controls

a hairdressing or barbering services workstation with:

one mirror per workstation

one adjustable client services chair per workstation

clean client gowns or wraps

clean client towels

haircutting scissors

texturising and thinning shears

electric clippers and attachments

beard and moustache trimmer

disposable blade safety razors

disposable razor blades

cutting combs with fine and coarse ends

shaving brushes

bowls

shaving lather

pre-shave conditioning oil

after shave products:

after shave lotion or conditioning cream

styptic lotion (not pencil)

talcum powder

disinfectant products for beard and moustache cutting equipment

lubricants and coolants for electric clippers

product instructions

current plain English regulatory documents distributed by government regulators for health, hygiene, skin penetration and use of razor types

organisational procedures for:

client comfort, safety and hygiene

work health, safety and hygiene for beard and moustache maintenance

disposal of hair waste.

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

hold a Certificate III in Hairdressing, or a Certificate III in Barbering, or a Certificate IV 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