If you’ve always dreamed of becoming a hairdresser, EIT’s one and two year full time certificates in hairdressing could be two years well spent.

Although the opportunity to exit from the course at the end of the first year is an option, completing both years is desirable, says programme co-ordinator Jewelle Lloyd.

“They are work ready after their first year to go into a junior role, but they wouldn’t be able to run their own clientele – they would be assisting the stylist.”

Students entering the EIT course are trained in EIT’s ‘Salon Elite’, giving them “practical, real world skills”.

Hairdressing lecturer Clare Zachan says they start with elementary skills, including shampoo treatments, long and short hair styling, cutting, colouring and customer service.

“The salon is the only way to do it.”

Each student is given a kit containing the “tools of the trade” to keep, which include scissors, combs, brushes, a blow waver, colouring equipment and a mannequin head.

Jewelle and Clare both have “many years” experience in the industry and say about 90 per cent of the second year is practical.

“It just gets them really in tune with how it works in a salon.”

The first year of the certificate in hairdressing concentrates on the theory behind the principals of each skill —this underpins everything that we do.”

Students start on mannequins, move onto working on each other before building up to hairdressing on clients.

In their second year, students have work experience in the industry – “often jobs come from there,” Clare says.

An industry liaison employment advisor is also available at EIT to assist students with their CVs and help prepare them by conducting mock interviews.

Jewelle and Clare join a hairdressing staff of six who complete regular industry training to keep up with current trends. The pair recently worked on the hair of contestants in Wellington’s World of Wearable Arts.

Youth, trade training and Maori and Pacific scholarships are available.

All lecturers have teaching qualifications in literacy and numeracy – “we support all learning styles,” Jewelle says.

“Due to the high practical content of the programme, students finish with an amazing skill base that caters to all skills required in salons.”

– Story and photo kindly supplied by HB Today