This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to recognise a range of hair and scalp conditions as part of a pre-hair service analysis, to advise on and provide remedial treatments for minor conditions and to advise clients to seek further advice for abnormal or contagious conditions.

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 own 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:

complete a hair and scalp analysis on five different clients to determine suitable salon treatment options and products for:

chemically treated hair

physically damaged hair

highly stressed hair

hair conditions that would benefit from protein and moisture treatments

integrate the use of infection control precautions and organisational procedures to complete these types of head and scalp treatments for three different clients:

protein treatments

moisture treatments

medicated treatments

record the following details of the hair and scalp treatment service in the history for each client serviced:

pre-treatment analysis

client symptoms

treatment and products used

outcomes achieved

recommended home care treatment and products.

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

skin biology, at an elementary level of understanding:

main structure, functions and role of skin

structure and function of the glands of the skin:

distribution and development of skin glands

production, composition and functions of sebum, eccrine and apocrine sweat fluids

glands and muscles associated with the hair and hair follicles:

structural and cellular features of a hair follicle

sebaceous glands

arrector pili muscle

common abnormal scalp conditions, symptoms and visual signs:

head lice

scabies

ringworm

dry or oily dandruff

seborrhoea

psoriasis

visual characteristics of these hair and scalp types:

normal

oily

dry

physically damaged

chemically damaged

highly stressed

types of hair conditions that can benefit from protein and moisture treatments, when and why these would be used

key features of the organisation’s remedial hair and scalp treatment range:

formulation

product purpose and efficacy

physical effects on the hair and scalp, at a basic level of understanding

application instructions

processing times

types of finishing techniques and equipment that should be used post treatment to avoid further hair damage and breakage

the transmission routes of infectious conditions:

direct contact (client to operator, operator to client, operator to operator)

non-intact skin (cuts, abrasions, lesions)

work surfaces

equipment

key features of, and reasons for, standard infection-control precautions:

hand washing and drying before and after client contact, cleaning and waste disposal and using occlusive dressings for own cuts and abrasions

using alcohol-based hand rub solutions as an adjunct to hand washing

using personal protective equipment, particularly gloves, gowns, aprons, face masks and eye protection

using single use treatment products or decanting bulk products into single use bowls

cleaning, disinfecting or sterilising reusable equipment

cleaning or disinfecting work surfaces, client gowns and towels

appropriate handling and disposal of single use items and clinical (infectious) waste

basic aspects of local government, state or territory health regulations applicable to hair and scalp treatments

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

infection control for hair and scalp treatments

using correct operator posture during treatment to avoid fatigue and injury

minimising product wastage

water efficiency

waste disposal with particular emphasis on sound disposal methods for clinical (infectious) 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 hair and scalp treatment 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 product preparation area with:

preparation benches

product storage areas

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

disinfectant and sterilising products for equipment and work surfaces

operator hand washing facilities:

basin with hot and cold running water

liquid soap

single use towels or hand dryer

alcohol-based hand rub solutions

operator personal protective equipment:

apron

disposable safety masks

rubber or disposable gloves

hand care cream

a diverse professional range of hair and scalp treatment products:

for dry hair and scalp

for oily hair and scalp

for chemically treated hair

for physically damaged hair

for highly stressed hair

for abnormal skin conditions, including psoriasis, seborrhoea, and dry and oily dandruff

medicated shampoos and treatments

a hairdressing or barbering services workstation with:

one mirror per workstation

one adjustable client services chair per workstation

a basin services area with:

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

product instructions

template client history records

current plain English regulatory documents distributed by government regulators for health, and infection control

organisational procedures for:

infection control

waste minimisation

water efficiency

disposal of clinical (infectious) and other 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

Trichology