Hair & Beauty Therapy

This programme is aimed at 16-18-year-olds who wish to begin a career working in the hair and beauty industry, and have a keen interest in learning creative skills, and developing their communication and customer service skills.

The Level 1 Hair and Beauty course is designed to provide you with a broad range of skills and knowledge in both hair and beauty, and to provide the information needed for you to choose a specialist pathway in preparation for Level 2 study. Students who achieve this qualification could look forward to a future career as a professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, Nail Technician or Barber.

This course provides an introduction to the basic knowledge, skills and behaviours required to work in a commercial Hair or Beauty Salon with a focus on the following four mandatory, theory-based units:

1. Introduction to the hair and beauty sector
2. Presenting a professional image in a salon
3. Following health and safety in the salon
4. Working with others

You will also complete optional units to develop your practical skills which may include:

• Styling Women’s Hair
• Styling Men’s Hair
• Plaiting and Twisting hair
• Basic Make-up Application
• Themed Face Painting
• Nail Art Application
• Providing Basic Manicure Treatments
• Providing Basic Pedicure Treatments
• Colour hair using temporary colour
• Create a hair and beauty image
• Salon reception duties

You will learn through a combination of theory-based sessions in the classroom, live demonstrations and practical assignments, working on headblocks and peers in our fully equipped working salons. You will work with top industry standard product lines including Wella, and will gain a real-world learning experience through carrying out services on the Buxton & Leek College client base.

Your progress will be fully supported and tracked by our highly experienced tutors who have worked as industry professionals themselves. You will benefit from their vast experience in their area of expertise and their understanding of the industry. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in work experience with local employers across Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

At BLC we offer an enhanced student experience with the opportunity to take part in a trip to the Wella Salons/Studios, enrichment activities and visits from guest speakers who provide workshops and offer invaluable advice on the industry.

At the end of the programme, you will be able to show your competence in a broad range of professional hair and beauty skills and demonstrate responsibility for your work and an ability to work independently.

Level 1 Diploma in Hair and Beauty

Depending on your chosen pathway you could progress on to;

• Level 2 Diploma in Hairdressing,
• or Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy.

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis and in a variety of ways, including observation, practical skills assessment, oral questioning of knowledge and online multiple-choice tests.

Grade 1 or above at GCSE in English and maths.

Level 3 is ideal if you’ve worked in hairdressing or barbering for some time or have completed the Level 2 Hairdressing qualification and want to develop your skills in a specialised area. You might want a broad qualification or to learn a particular technique. 

The Level 3 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing course is designed to provide you with the communication, customer service and practical skills required to meet national occupational standards for, hairdressing. Students who achieve this qualification could look forward to a future career as a professional Hair Stylist or Colour Technician and gain the confidence to offer a broader range of services or apply for a more senior role. 

This course will help you to develop and practise the skills required to provide hairdressing services for all hair types, as well as, gaining an awareness of environmental sustainability and the commercial skills that are valued highly by employers. You will study the following units: 

• Monitor and maintain health and safety practice in the salon 

• Consultation support for colleagues on hair services 

• Cut women’s hair to create a variety of looks  

• Style and dress hair using a variety of Techniques 

• Colour hair to create a variety of looks 

• Creative Hairdressing Design Skills  

• Perm hair to create a variety of looks 

• Hair Colour Correction 

You will learn through a combination of theory-based sessions in the classroom, live demonstrations and practical assignments, working on headblocks and peers in our fully equipped working salons. You will work with top industry standard product lines including Wella and will gain a real-world learning experience through carrying out services on the Buxton & Leek College client base.  

Your progress will be fully supported and tracked by our highly experienced tutors who have worked as industry professionals themselves. You will benefit from their vast experience in their area of expertise and their understanding of the industry. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in work experience with local employers across Derbyshire and Staffordshire.  

At BLC we offer an enhanced student experience with visits from guest speakers and the opportunity to take part in enrichment activities and study trips to the Wella Salons/Studios, trade exhibitions, international trips and overnight visits to meet industry specialists. 

At the end of the programme, you will be able to show your competence in a broad range of professional hairdressing skills and demonstrate responsibility for your work and an ability to work independently.  

For adult learners, this can be a blended course. You will learn the theoretical knowledge through self-directed study using work packs and online resources. You will be expected to complete reading and research to support your learning and will find it useful to be able to engage with IT resources, including internet, email and Microsoft Teams. 

Level 3 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing 

You could progress on to;

• a Level 4 qualification, such as, Advanced Hair Colouring,
• or employment as a stylist in a huge variety of settings.

You will also be eligible to become a State Registered Hairdresser (SRH) with The Hair Council, enhancing your career prospects and opportunities within the industry.

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis via practical skills assessment and online multiple-choice tests.

There are no formal entry requirements, but you will ideally have a Level 2 qualification in Hairdressing or previous experience working in the hair sector, and Level 2 English and maths. 

This programme is aimed at school leavers aged 16-18, adult learners and those already working in industry at junior level who wish to further their career in the Beauty Therapy industry. 

To gain your Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy you will learn within a realistic working environment in our professional and fully equipped commercial salons. By the end of your qualification, you will be demonstrating your skills at a competent industry level. 

You will be assessed as you learn. For each unit, your assessor will support and observe and asks questions as you perform a task, look at a portfolio of work that you have built as formal evidence of your learning. Then they confirm you have the skills to do the job well. 

The qualification allows you to learn, develop and practise the skills required to provide beauty therapy services at an advanced level.  

The Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy is a nationally recognised qualification, which provides a detailed understanding of the industry and covers a range of skills and knowledge within the following units: 

• Monitor and maintain health and safety practice in the salon  

• Promote and sell products and services to clients  

• Provide body massage 

• Provide massage using pre-blended aromatherapy oils  

• Provide Indian head massage 

• Apply stone therapy massage 

The course comprises of mandatory and optional units that are continually assessed via observed work, oral questions, online tests and assignments. On completion of the programme you will need to show competence in a broad range of Beauty Therapy skills, be able to demonstrate considerable responsibility for your work and have the ability to work independently. 

During the programme you will be able to participate in national competitions, work with a professional photographer and attend trips to further your knowledge.  

You will work in our commercial salon within the campus, working on clients offering you relevant work experience. 

You will learn through a combination of theory-based sessions in the classroom, live demonstrations and practical assignments working on your peers in our fully equipped working salons. You will work with top industry standard product lines including Eve Taylor and will gain a real-world learning experience through carrying out services on the Buxton & Leek College client base. 

Your progress will be fully supported and tracked by our highly experienced tutors who have worked as industry professionals themselves. You will benefit from their vast experience in their area of expertise and their understanding of the industry. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in work experience with local employers across Derbyshire and Staffordshire. 

At BLC we offer an enhanced student experience with visits from guest speakers and the opportunity to take part in enrichment activities and study trips. You will also have the chance to gain additional qualifications and training, for example gel nails, spray tans, ear piercing, catwalk make up and professional beauty exhibitions. 

At the end of the programme, you will be able to show your competence as a junior therapist in a broad range of beauty skills, whilst also demonstrating responsibility for your work and an ability to work independently. 

Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy 

These qualifications can prepare you to work in a salon and help you progress to become a senior member of staff.

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis in a variety of ways, including observation, practical skills assessment, oral questioning of knowledge and online multiple-choice tests. 

Learners undertaking this course will need to already hold a level 2 qualification within Beauty and hold the basic foundation skills.