Creative Hairdressing Skills

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 10 learners to foundational hairdressing skills within a safe, hygienic, and creative environment. The focus is on practical techniques paired with an understanding of health and safety, reflecting the principles and skills set out in the Curriculum for Wales (The national curriculum for Wales). The lesson aims to develop technical competence, personal and social skills, creativity, and professionalism.

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson supports Health and Well-being Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE), focused on developing practical and vocational competencies with a cross-curricular emphasis on literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and creativity. It aligns specifically with these curriculum elements:

• Health and Well-being AoLE:
  • Personal care and hygiene (Yr 9-10 progression steps)
  • Practical skills for daily and vocational life, including safe use of tools and equipment
  • Developing physical and manual skills and personal presentation
• Employability, Creativity and Digital Competency:
  • Demonstrating creativity in practical work
  • Collaboration, communication, and safe working practices

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, pupils will be able to:

1. Understand and apply basic hygiene and safety principles related to hairdressing.
2. Demonstrate practical blow drying and basic sectioning techniques safely.
3. Use hairdressing tools properly and confidently, including combs, brushes, and hairdryers.
4. Collaborate effectively with peers, showing respect and professionalism during practical activities.
5. Reflect on the importance of personal presentation and hygiene within hairdressing professions.

---

Key Skills Development

• Practical skill: Hair sectioning and blow drying
• Health & Safety: Hand hygiene, sanitation of equipment, electrical safety
• Creativity & Evaluation: Exploring personal style through hair styling
• Literacy: Following step-by-step instructions and vocabulary development (e.g., sectioning, parting, blow drying)
• Communication & Collaboration: Peer feedback and cooperative working

---

Materials Required

• Salon capes or aprons (1 per pupil)
• Hairdryers (shared, ratio 1:5 students)
• Combs and brushes (1 per pupil)
• Mirrors (1 per pair)
• Sanitising spray and disposable towels
• Hand sanitiser and disposable gloves (optional)
• Worksheets for vocabulary and safety checklist

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Safety Briefing (10 minutes)

• Teacher welcomes the class, explains session aims linking to the Welsh Curriculum's focus on practical skills for vocational readiness and health and well-being.
• Discuss importance of hygiene, health and safety in hairdressing:
  • Handwashing before client contact
  • Cleaning and sanitising tools before and after use
  • Safe handling of electrical equipment (hairdryer) to avoid injury or damage
  • Importance of maintaining a clutter-free workstation
• Interactive Q&A to engage prior knowledge and clarify any questions.

2. Demonstration: Basic Sectioning & Blow Drying (10 minutes)

• Teacher models hair sectioning techniques (quadrant parting), explaining vocabulary and demonstrating on a mannequin or volunteer pupil.
• Demonstrates correct blow drying posture, airflow direction, and brush use for volume and smoothness.
• Highlight key safety points in real time (e.g., not touching the hot nozzle, avoiding wet electrical plugs).

3. Guided Practical Activity: Skills Practice (25 minutes)

• Pupils pair up: One pupil plays the ‘client,’ the other the ‘stylist.’ Roles swap halfway.
• Each pupil practices:
  • Wearing a salon cape properly
  • Sectioning hair into four parts with comb
  • Blow drying one section at a time using brush and dryer carefully
  • Following safety and hygiene routines: hand sanitising before and after, cleaning station surface, switching off electrical tools properly
• Teacher circulates, offering personalised feedback focused on technique, hygiene, and safe practice.

4. Group Reflection and Peer Feedback (10 minutes)

• Pairs share experience and challenges; discuss how hygiene and safety impacted their session.
• Teacher facilitates group discussion on the role of professionalism and client care in hairdressing.
• Pupils complete a short worksheet listing three safety rules and identifying own improvement points.

5. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

• Quick quiz (verbal or written): Key vocabulary and safety points.
• Pupils self-assess practical confidence on a simple scale (1-5) and set a personal target for next session.
• Teacher provides short formative feedback highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

---

Assessment Methods

• Formative assessment: Observation of practical skills and safety adherence during activity.
• Peer and self-assessment: Reflection worksheets and feedback discussions.
• Verbal questioning: Confirm understanding of safety, hygiene, and technical terms.
• Teacher feedback: Specific praise for safe tool use and hygiene practices, plus constructive advice for technique improvement.

---

Safety and Hygiene Considerations

• Ensure electrical equipment PAT tested and cords untangled before use.
• Maintain social distancing where possible when using blow dryers (especially relevant in health contexts).
• Encourage hand hygiene with hand sanitiser pre- and post-contact.
• Clear instructions on safe disposal of waste materials (e.g., disposable towels).
• Monitor room ventilation during use of electrical equipment.
• Immediate response protocol should an accident occur, including burns or electrical shocks.

---

Extension Ideas (Cross-Curricular / Homework)

• Research task: Investigate different hair types and the care techniques best suited.
• Creative journal: Sketch and design personalised hairstyles combining learned skills.
• Digital literacy challenge: Use safe online tutorials to practise and extend styling techniques at home.

---

Teacher Notes

• Be mindful of students with sensory sensitivities to heat or tactile interactions; offer alternatives or support.
• Encourage a respectful learning environment emphasising personal dignity linked to well-being standards in the curriculum.
• Use the session to build confidence and encourage further vocational exploration in Hair and Beauty.

---

This dynamic, practical lesson strengthens essential hairdressing skills through safe, hands-on experience directly linked to the Curriculum for Wales’ goals to develop practical and personal well-being skills, preparing learners effectively for personal and vocational pathways.