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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Develop advanced product knowledge and application techniques.
   • Develop and maintain creative hair colouring and lightening product knowledge.
   • Research specialist creative colouring and lightening techniques and develop own designs and techniques.
   • Share new knowledge and techniques with other staff members.
2. Consult with client and assess hair.
   • Access and review any existing client hair colour history or create for new clients.
   • Determine, through discussion and questioning, client satisfaction or dissatisfaction with current hair colour.
   • Discuss client colour preferences, and expectations of desired finished result using colour charts to assist.
   • Engage client in discussion about lifestyle and self-care factors that may impact on success of creative colour treatment.
   • Visually examine and analyse client skin and hair characteristics, existing hair colour and condition.
   • Evaluate planned or existing haircut structure for suitability of effects.
   • Consider the interplay of the elements and principles of hair design to visualise, communicate and recommend creative colour treatments appropriate for the client.
   • Determine the best design and obtain client agreement to proceed with recommended creative colouring services.
3. Determine contraindications to colour treatment.
   • Evaluate client reaction to colour chemicals through discussion, assessment of history, where available, and completion of a pre-service skin test, as required.
   • Complete a strand test where hair analysis indicates risk to hair structure and condition.
   • Identify contraindications to proceeding with colour treatment and explain any present to client.
4. Select products and prepare for service.
   • Use knowledge of hair biology and cosmetic chemistry, as it applies to hair colour and lightening treatments, to ensure effective and safe use of chemicals.
   • Select colouring and lightening products to match hair analysis and planned design.
   • Select and prepare equipment according to product instructions and application methods to be used.
   • Take personal precautions to prevent own skin stain and allergic reactions to colour chemicals throughout preparation and colour service.
   • Measure and prepare products, according to product instructions and ensure minimal wastage.
   • Apply wraps, towels and skin barrier cream to ensure client protection and safety.
5. Apply products using creative techniques.
   • Maintain client and operator comfort and safety throughout colour service according to organisational procedures.
   • Select and use creative colouring and lightening techniques according to planned design.
   • Apply colour treatment products using methods and following stages shown in product instructions.
   • Ensure even coverage, cross check and complete without re-growth overlap, stain or damage to client scalp or hairline.
   • Time processing of colour treatment products to achieve target result, according to product instructions, and monitor through observation.
   • Remove residual product at end of processing time, according to product instructions, and apply after-treatment toning products, as required.
   • Use water resources efficiently during service and safely dispose of hazardous and other waste according to organisational procedures.
6. Finish designs and service.
   • Select finishing tools and techniques and use to achieve planned designs to client satisfaction.
   • Review colour service outcomes against client design expectations and confirm client satisfaction with result.
   • Propose remedial action in response to any client concerns and post service analysis of hair condition and colour appearance.
   • Reach agreement with client on proposed solutions through positive and open communication.
   • Advise on and recommend home colour care products and sun protection strategies.
   • Update client history to include full details of colour service.

Performance Evidence

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 research project, using information from at least three different sources, to identify, explore and complete a written report on:

current colouring and lightening products and their use in creative colouring to enhance classic and creative hair designs

new and emerging products, techniques and creative colour designs

develop a creative colouring and lightening design for each of these haircut structures:

short

medium

long

solid form

layered

graduated

incorporate these colouring and lightening techniques cumulatively within the above suite of designs:

multiple colour applications:

tint and slices

shading

duo tones

colour graduations through lengths of hair

chequerboard application

fantasy colouring using vibrant shades

highlighting effects:

slices

individual chunky colour placements

freehand techniques to achieve:

end lightening effects

marbling effects

consult with at least four clients, each with different haircut structures and colour design preferences, and complete colour services using creative colouring and lightening techniques to enhance their hair designs

for each client, complete a pre-treatment hair analysis covering the following characteristics to recommend creative colouring treatments appropriate for the client:

natural hair type, texture, porosity, density and elasticity

natural base colour

artificial base colour

hair colour tone

percentage of white hair

presence of lightening agents or artificial hair colour treatments on hair

existing chemical services

skin tone

length of hair

scalp condition

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

pre-service hair analysis

contraindications

reaction to skin tests or products

colour products selected

brand and colour selection

application techniques, processing methods and times

colour and hair condition outcome

recommended home care products.

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Knowledge Evidence

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

key characteristics and interrelationships of the elements and principles of hair design and their use in achieving creative hair colouring and lightening effects;

elements of hair design:

line

shape

direction

size

texture

colour

principles of hair design:

balance

gradation

repetition

contrast

harmony

dominance

unity

colour wheel and its use in colour selection to achieve colour combinations and warm and cool tones

hair biology, at an elementary level of understanding:

main functions and role of hair

main factors contributing to hair colour

structure and cellular features of hair and hair follicles

process of hair growth and the hair growth cycle

characteristics of normal and damaged hair

relationship between hair porosity, texture, condition and the success of creative colour treatments

basic concepts of cosmetic chemistry, as they apply to effective and safe use of colour and lightening products:

bonds

molecules

chemical compounds

chemical change

neutralisation

acids and bases

pH

at an elementary level of understanding, the chemical and physical effects on hair structure, texture and colour of:

hair colouring and lightening products

pre-pigmenting products

sunlight

heated hairdressing equipment

contraindications to using hair colouring and lightening products:

hair or scalp damage from previous chemical hair treatments

existing metallic based colour on hair

hair porosity

sunlight or heat affected hair

client allergic reactions

organisation’s colour and lightening products range:

colour chart system

formulation

product purpose

action on the hair

mixing and application instructions

processing and developing times

role and basic content of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or plain English workplace documents or diagrams that interpret SDS content

action of peroxide with bleaches and powder lighteners in colour deposit removal

basic aspects of local government, state or territory health regulations applicable to providing hair colouring services

industry practices and organisational procedures for:

client comfort and safety with particular emphasis on:

using gown and towels to protect client clothes

application of barrier creams to face and neckline

avoiding product contact with eyes

monitoring client scalp comfort and condition

work health and safety for applying hair colouring and lightening products, with particular emphasis on:

avoiding product contact with operator eyes and skin

avoiding inhalation of fumes during product mixing

using correct posture and adjusting height of client chair to avoid fatigue and injury

minimising wastage of colouring and lightening products

waste disposal with particular emphasis on environmentally sound disposal methods for hazardous and other hairdressing waste.

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