This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to consult with clients and analyse hair and facial characteristics to design, recommend and complete a range of complementary classic and current hair designs.

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.

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:

consult with at least six clients and complete a pre-service analysis covering the following characteristics to design and recommend appropriate finished hair designs:

facial features and bone structure

natural hair type

hair texture

growth patterns

movement

length and structure of haircut

style and finish hair for the above six clients to their satisfaction, and cumulatively style and finish hair of these lengths and haircut structures:

short

shoulder length

below shoulder length

solid form

layered

graduated

combination of structures

use these tools and techniques, cumulatively across the suite of clients:

blow drying using brushes to create curl, wave or volume

blow drying using brushes to straighten or smooth hair

using thermal tools to straighten hair

using thermal tools for curl or texture

applying rollers to set hair

use these finishing techniques, cumulatively across the suite of clients:

brushing

dry moulding

placing

backcombing

smoothing over backcombing

applying fixing products.

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 finished hairstyle effects;

elements of hair design:

line

shape

direction

size

texture

colour

principles of hair design:

balance

gradation

repetition

contrast

harmony

dominance

unity

different facial shapes and hair designs which best complement particular shapes

characteristics of the following hair features, how these will impact on finished hairstyles and appropriate designs for best outcomes:

natural hair types:

European

Asian

Euro-Asian

African

hair texture:

coarse

medium

fine

hair movement:

straight

wavy

natural curl

chemical curl or waves

hair length and haircut structure:

short

shoulder length

below shoulder length

solid form

layered

graduated

combination of structures

natural distribution and growth patterns of hair:

crown area

hairline

neckline

cowlicks (whorls)

effects of thermal tools on hair condition and structure and ways to maintain the integrity of hair during styling

effects of humidity on finished hairstyles

key features of the organisation’s styling and finishing products range:

product purpose and suitability for different types of hair

action on the hair

application instructions

processing times, if applicable

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

client comfort and safety with particular emphasis on:

using gown and towels to protect client clothes

avoiding product contact with eyes

monitoring use of heated tools to avoid client burns

work health and safety for providing hair styling services, with particular emphasis on:

safe use of electrical hair styling equipment

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

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

minimising wastage of styling and finishing products

waste disposal with particular emphasis on environmentally sound disposal methods for styling and finishing products and containers.

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 hair styling 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

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

clean client gowns or wraps

heat lamps

hair dryers

thermal straightening and curling tools

professional styling and finishing products which can be:

gels

glazes

lotions

mousses

setting lotions

sprays

waxes

one operator trolley per workstation stocked with:

combs

brushes:

Denman style

round

vent

sectioning clips

as required in the hairdressing or barbering context:

hair rollers of different sizes

pin curl clips

pins

product instructions

organisational procedures for:

client comfort and safety

work health and safety for hair styling services

waste minimisation

waste disposal.

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

Hair Design