A clean sweep: Next step for apprentices
– put that broom down!

Build their profile
I keep talking about the apprentice’s profile, but it’s worth explaining this further.
Remember, when that new apprentice starts, that’s who your client sees...”the new apprentice”. After two years, many clients will still see “the new apprentice” and not be aware of the training and development that’s taken place. If, on each visit, the client sees this new apprentice doing more and more tasks, then they see that person grow and flourish and they are more likely to let THAT person do their hair in two years time rather than “the new apprentice” they may still be seeing.

After starting to apply colours, what could be next on the list? What’s the next step in enabling your apprentice to help the salon generate as much income as possible?
Many salons offer discounts for senior citizens and children, so this is an ideal market for your apprentice to begin to build their skills in foundation haircutting.

Foundation haircutting

Now that your apprentice has acquired the speed and accuracy of colour application and the hair handling and sectioning skills learned through blow-drying, they are going to respond very well to foundation haircutting. Most of the section patterns they used in their blow-drying will be the same ones used in these haircuts.

Begin with classic one length cuts and bobs, then move on to classic uniform layers and finally introduce short to long graduation. Remember, like the colour, this is not aimed at covering the entire realm of haircutting, but it is a way of allowing them to experience haircutting to build their skills and confidence to become productive for the salon.

You can expand their skills and knowledge with more challenging haircuts a little later, once they have the foundation skills and confidence.

Starting this way will also be a good introduction to their NVQ Level 2 requirements for haircutting. As part of NVQ 2, a young apprentice is required to show competency in one length haircuts, uniformed layers, graduation from short to long and long to short, with and without fringes in straight and curly hair.

Focus on technique first, then on speed (NVQ 2 requires these haircuts to be done in 30 minutes, not including shampoo or blow dry/setting).