Level 3 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing

This advanced technical course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the level 2 diploma. You will learn a range of advanced hairdressing techniques in styling, cutting and perming. You will build on your knowledge of health and safety, emergency procedures and security protocols expected in a salon environment. You will continue to work to hygienic standards and develop your knowledge of hair, skin and scalp conditions that may affect your treatments. You will also learn how to colour correct hair and address your clients needs.

Your study programme will consist of: 

• Your chosen technical qualification
• GCSE English and maths if you are yet to achieve a grade 4 or above
• Personal Development sessions which focus on developing work-ready skills (such as CV writing), independent life skills (such as money management) and personal, social and professional growth. 
• Work experience or industry placement (course dependent)

To find out more about GCSE English and maths, personal development and work experience, take a look at our Employability page.

To qualify for this course, you will need a minimum of: 2 GCSEs at grade 4-9 (including English and maths) and a Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy, with a minimum achievement of Merit standard.

• Learn how to carry out emergency procedures and carry out risk assessments
• Understand how to ensure compliance to health and safety regulations in salon environments
• Develop your understanding of adverse skin, hair and scalp conditions that can cause analysis problems when consulting clients
• Learn how to accurately complete client record cards
• Strengthen your expertise in hair cutting techniques, learning new methods such as: tapering, thinning, texturising and club cutting
• Build your confidence as you continue to develop your styling and dressing techniques, learning a new range of professional skills
• Understand the importance and use cases of pre-lightening products
• Learn how to remedy any issues highlighted in your client consultations
• Develop your understanding of pre-softening and pre-pigmenting during a colour service
• Understand how hair texture, growth patterns, hair density and client lifestyle can affect the results of a perm treatment
• Learn how to test for hair porosity, elasticity and use pre-perm tests to gain a greater insight into the client’s compatibility with the treatment
• Explore how perming products and neutralisers work
• Learn winding techniques for perming treatments, such as spiral, hopscotch, directional, weaving and many more
• Build your creativity skills by researching and practicing a variety of complex dressing techniques, creating new looks and styles from a mood board

Our hair and beauty students learn in our professional training salons based in Weybridge and Ashford. The Weybridge salon is a valued part of the college community, while our Ashford salon enjoys a prime High Street location. Both salons are open to the public, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable industry experience in a realistic salon environment. 

Throughout this course, you will be continuously assessed through online tests and practical assignments.

This course takes place in our professional, client-facing training salons, located in Ashford and Weybridge. You will have the opportunity to work with the general public and provide treatments to real clients, therefore purchasing the salon’s uniform is required. Upon enrolment, you will be advised on how and where to purchase this to start your course.

Students are also allocated a certain amount of free printing, after which a small fee will be incurred. You can purchase more printing credits on our online store, which can be found here.

Upon successful completion of this qualification, you will be able to progress onto other Level 3 or level 4 qualifications, or you can progress into full time employment as a hairdresser at a salon, hotel or as a freelance stylist.