Educators' Guide for Pedagogy and Assessment
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Unit: 1. Introduction to Hair and Beauty Therapy
Hairdressing and Beauty
Learning Outcome: 1. I can develop a risk assessment taking into consideration local health and safety legislation.

The importance of health and safety in the salon: Make the workplace safe for customers, suppliers and the general public; prevent risks to health; appropriate use and storage of materials; appropriate use, maintenance and storage of equipment; indicate what to do in an emergency situation.


Hazards: e.g. Untrained staff, tools that are not properly sanitised, dirty basins and towels, inappropriate use and storage of chemicals, inappropriate use and storage of equipment, lack of cleanliness, poor ventilation.


Personal and protective equipment: e.g. Gloves, aprons, facial masks.
Services: waxing; facials; colouring; non-permanent colour; perms; bleach.


Salon waste: e.g. Aerosols, chemical waste, sharp objects/glass, recyclable containers, ash, hair.


Legislation: e.g.
- Act 27 of 2000 - Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act;
- LN 44 of 2002 - Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements) Regulations,
- LN 35 of 2003 - Protection against Risks of Back Injury at Work Placement Regulations,
- LN 36 of 2003 - General Provisions for Health and Safety at Work Places Regulations,
- LN 45 of 2002 - Work Places (Provision of Health and/or Safety Signs) Regulations,
- LN 11 of 2002 - Work Place (First Aid) Regulations,
- LN 121 of 2003 - Minimum Requirements for the use of Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations,
- LN 227 of 2003 - Protection of the Health and Safety of Workers from the Risks related to Chemical Agents at Work Regulations,
- LN 228 of 2003 - Protection of Workers from Risks related to Exposure to Biological Agents at Work Regulations.


Principles related to:
Premises requirements: e.g.- Premises should have suitable and sufficient lighting and ventilation,
- Walls, floors and work surfaces should be capable of being easily cleaned and maintained in good repair,
- Floor should be swept regularly to prevent the accumulation of hair clippings,
- Suitable waste bins should be provided, emptied at least daily and be cleaned and disinfected,
- Sufficient number of wash hand basins should be provided with an adequate supply of hot and cold water and hand-drying facilities,
- Adequate storage space should be available for materials and equipment,
- No animals should be on the premises;
Requirements for cleanliness of materials and equipment: e.g.- Single-use disposable instruments to be used wherever possible,
- Gowns and overalls to be kept clean at all times,
- Any instrument likely to come into contact with a customer to be adequately disinfected,
- Towels to be clean and laundered in hot wash after use by each person,
- All articles used for the purpose of shaving to be cleaned immediately before and after use,
- Any article that has been used on a client must be cleaned before using it on another person,
- Stylists/therapists must keep themselves and their clothing clean and have no exposed cuts, abrasions or wounds;
Requirements for stylists/therapists:- Clean clothing/uniform,
- Frequent and adequate hand washing,
- Open wounds covered with waterproof dressing,
- Non-latex disposable gloves worn if stylists/therapists’ hands have a skin condition or the client has a scalp condition,
- Gloves replaced after each client,
- Stylists/therapists fully trained and competent,
- Suitable first aid equipment and appropriate training provided.


Areas of risk assessment: Identify hazards; decide who might be harmed and how; estimate the risk; controlling risks; monitoring effectiveness of controls.
Learning Outcome: 2. I know the basic first aid skills.


Emergency Situations: e.g. Fire, fainting, electric shocks, burns, cuts/wounds, falls/trips, sprains/strain.


Learning Outcome: 3. I understand the basics of professional conduct in the salon.


Career opportunities: Education; salon owner; cruise liners; fashion industry; film-making industry; theatre; supplying of products; manufacturing; wig making; hair extensions.


Communication skills
- Verbal: e.g. greeting, checking for understanding, open-ended and closed-ended questions, empathy, confrontation, constructive and destructive feedback, summarisation, termination;
- Non-verbal: e.g. facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, touch, posture, proximity, tone of voice, pitch.

Importance of confidentiality: Building up trust and confidence; adhering to legislation; showing professionalism; security.


Client consultation:
Communication and recordkeeping:- Communication e.g. listening, understanding, communicating with clients.
- Recordkeeping: e.g. keeping information in a safe place, recording information, keeping clients’ confidentiality.
- Manufacturers' instructions: e.g. reading, following, observing all instructions.
Learning Outcome: 4. I have an understanding of the basic structure of the hair and scalp and the influencing factors that may cause damage to the hair and skin.


Factors that cause damage to the hair: e.g.
- Use of harsh chemicals: e.g. over-bleaching, over-processed hair with colouring, over-processed hair with perming products;
- Physical damage: e.g. bad brushing, bad combing, too much use of electric equipment;
- Environmental damage: e.g. harsh wind, too much exposure in the sun, use of chlorinated water;
Factors that contribute to a healthy skin
- Healthy skin: cleansing the skin with the right product; following a healthy diet; rest; exercise.

Hair and skin structure: The cuticle; the cortex; the medulla; dermis; epidermis; sebaceous glands; erector pili muscle; sweat glands; hair follicle; dermal papilla.

Hair cycle: Anagen stage; catagen stage; telogen stage.

Skin anatomy and physiology: e.g. Hypodermis, dermis, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair bulb.


Client consultation:
- identifying hair type;
- identifying hair condition;
- identifying hair build-up;
- identifying scalp condition;
- choosing the right product: e.g. shampoo and conditioner according to the hair condition.