This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop and apply individual or multiple scalp treatments in response to trichological assessments. The treating hairdresser or barber may or may not have completed the initial assessment. It also requires communication with clients to provide advice on self-administered parts of the treatment program and lifestyle factors to be adhered to between clinical treatments.

This unit applies to senior hairdressers and barbers who work in salons. 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:

integrate the use of infection control precautions and organisational procedures to complete a series of staged scalp treatments for five different clients

for each client, review the trichological assessment to determine suitable treatment options, products and a treatment plan

across the five clients, cumulatively, provide these types of treatments:

conditioning creams

medicated shampoos and treatments

creams for scaly problems

those for abnormal skin conditions, which may be psoriasis, seborrhoea, and dry and oily dandruff

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

severity of client condition and symptoms for the stage of treatment

treatment and products used in response to the trichological assessment

outcomes achieved at various stages of the treatment regime

recommended home care treatment and lifestyle adjustments.

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 trichological disorders, symptoms, visual signs and treatment options:

adverse effects of previous treatments on the hair and scalp

alopecia areata

androgenetic alopecia

diffuse hair loss

dry or oily dandruff

head lice

pityriasis versicolour

psoriasis

ringworm

scabies

seborrheic dermatitis

seborrhoea

tinea capitis

traction alopecia

key features of the organisation’s trichological scalp treatment range:

formulation

product purpose and efficacy

physical effects on the hair and scalp

application instructions

processing times

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 scalp treatments

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

infection control for 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 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

activities that require the individual to work with commercial speed, timing and productivity to 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 trichological scalp treatment products:

conditioning creams

medicated shampoos and treatments

creams for scaly problems

premixed creams

for dry hair and scalp

for oily hair and scalp

for chemically treated hair

for physically damaged hair

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

a hairdressing or barbering services workstation with:

one mirror per workstation

one adjustable client services chair per workstation

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

product instructions

trichological assessments on which to base the treatment regime

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 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

Trichology