This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide technical direction to team members providing a range of client services. It also involves improving own technical skills via professional development activities.

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:

take responsibility for the technical direction of a hairdressing or barbering team over six, three hour work periods

across those work periods, cumulatively, monitor provision of services, provide technical advice and assist team members with technical questions for the following client services:

client consultation

haircutting

haircolouring or lightening

hair styling and finishing

across those work periods, cumulatively:

resolve any technical issues that require remedial client action

review client service outcomes for six clients and provide feedback to individual team members providing services

coach team members by demonstrating techniques for three different hairdressing or barbering services

source three different professional development opportunities to improve personal technical skills.

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

for industry and the organisation in particular:

personal services values and business objectives

client service and complaint resolution policies and procedures

practices for managing quality assurance of client services

concepts of continuous improvement for technical delivery of hair services and how to manage this at an operational level

problem-solving and decision-making processes and techniques and application to typical technical hair service issues

different leadership styles and characteristics of effective technical leadership

techniques for motivating team members to achieve technical proficiency and provide quality client service outcomes:

involving individuals and teams in decision making processes

providing encouragement and opportunities for skill development

recognising abilities, achievements and positive workplace behaviour

providing encouragement, constructive criticism and coaching.

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:

paying clients with different service 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, or

models or performers in a session styling setting

a team whose technical performance is the responsibility of the individual; this can comprise:

team members in a hairdressing or barbering industry workplace, or

people who participate as team members in a simulated hairdressing or barbering workplace, or

people who participate in session styling events

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 hairdressing or barbering tasks simultaneously

ensure that client services are completed within designated timeframes that reflect accepted industry practice

a ventilated product preparation area with:

preparation benches

product storage areas including secure storage for hazardous substances

washing up sink with hot and cold running water for cleaning equipment

operator hand washing facilities:

basin with hot and cold running water

liquid soap

single use towels or hand dryer

a basin services area with this equipment and consumables:

shampoo back wash basins with hot and cold running water and adjustable temperature controls

shampoo hoses or spray attachments

client shampoo chairs or couches

clean client gowns or wraps

clean client towels

hairdressing or barbering services workstations with:

one mirror per workstation

one adjustable client services chair per workstation

tools and equipment used to provide the following services:

haircutting:

haircutting scissors

texturising and thinning shears

electric clippers and attachments

hair colouring and lightening:

tint brushes and combs

foils

hair styling and finishing:

thermostatically controlled ceramic flat irons

blow dryers with heat diffusers

heat lamps

hairdryers

general cross-service tools:

client skin stain prevention products

liquid measure

plastic bowls

combs

hair and neck brushes

sectioning clips

hair rollers of different sizes

pin curl clips

personal protective equipment:

apron

disposable safety masks or safety goggles

rubber or disposable gloves

skin barrier cream

a diverse professional range of hair products for:

shampooing and conditioning

hair colouring and lightening

hair styling and finishing

organisational client service and complaint resolution policies and procedures.

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

Technical Leadership