Hairdressing

WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

Occupation description and WSOS

The name of the skill competition is

Hairdressing

Description of the associated work role(s) or occupation(s)

A hairdresser generally works in the commercial sector, offering a range of services and treatments to the hair for individual clients. There is a direct relationship between the nature and quality of the service required, and the payment made by the client. Therefore, the hairdresser has a continuing responsibility to work professionally and interactively with the client in order to give satisfaction and thus maintain and grow the business. Hairdressing is closely associated with other parts of the service sector, and with the many products that support it, normally for commercial purposes.

Hairdressing also has an important therapeutic role in supporting individuals’ self- esteem and confidence. It also helps to relieve the effects of illness, and can aid recovery.

The hairdresser works in diverse environments including large, medium, small, or mobile salons, client homes and in product companies and training institutions, film and television productions, theatre, wig work, hair replacement, technicians, session stylists and product research and design. They may offer a wide range of services, including cutting, colouring, styling, chemical reformation, and special hair treatments. Alternatively, the hairdresser may specialize, for example by becoming either a men’s or ladies’ hairdresser, or a colourist. Irrespective of this, work organization and management, consultations and client assistance, the ability to analyse hair types and conditions, and to work safely and to manufacturers’ instructions, are the universal attributes of the outstanding hairdresser. In a mobile labour market, the hairdresser may work in teams, or alone, or in both from time to time. Whatever the structure of the work, the trained and experienced hairdresser takes on a high level of personal responsibility and autonomy. From safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the client through scrupulous attention to safe working, to achieving exceptional effects for special occasions, every treatment matters and mistakes are largely irreversible.

With the globalization of visual imagery, the worldwide market in hair and beauty products, and the international mobility of people, the hairdresser faces rapidly expanding opportunities and challenges. For the talented hairdresser there are many commercial and international opportunities; however, these carry with them the need to understand and work with diverse cultures, trends, and hair types. The diversity of skills associated with hairdressing is therefore likely to expand, with the WorldSkills Competition reflecting the skills and attributes of the most outward looking and talented entrants to the sector.

The WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS)

General notes on the WSOS

The WSOS specifies the knowledge, understanding, skills, and capabilities that underpin international best practice in technical and vocational performance. These are both specific to an occupational role and also transversal. Together they should reflect a shared global understanding of what the associated work role(s) or occupation(s) represent for industry and business (www.worldskills.org/WSOS).

The skill competition is intended to reflect international best practice as described by the WSOS, to the extent that it can. The Standard is therefore a guide to the required training and preparation for the skill competition.

In the skill competition the assessment of knowledge and understanding will take place through the assessment of performance. There will only be separate tests of knowledge and understanding where there is an overwhelming reason for these.

The Standard is divided into distinct sections with headings and reference numbers added.

Each section is assigned a percentage of the total marks to indicate its relative importance within the Standards. This is often referred to as the “weighting”. The sum of all the percentage marks is 100. The weightings determine the distribution of marks within the Marking Scheme.

Through the Test Project, the Marking Scheme will assess only those skills and capabilities that are set out in the WorldSkills Occupational Standards. They will reflect the Standards as comprehensively as possible within the constraints of the skill competition.

The Marking Scheme will follow the allocation of marks within the Standards to the extent practically possible. A variation of up to five percent is allowed, if this does not distort the weightings assigned by the Standards.

WorldSkills Occupational Standards

Section		Relative importance (%)
1	Work organization and management	14
	The individual needs to know and understand: The purposes, uses, care, and maintenance of all equipment, together with their safety implications The purposes, uses, care, and potential risks associated with materials and chemicals The symptoms and causes of problems and ailments affecting the hair and scalp The time required for each hairdressing treatment The health and safety standards applying at any one time The importance of sustainable work practices
	The individual shall be able to: Prepare and maintain a safe, tidy, and welcoming work station Plan, prepare and complete each hairdressing treatment within the time available Select, use, clean, and store all equipment and materials safely, hygienically, and in compliance with manufacturers’ instructions Apply or exceed the health and safety standards applying to the environment and the treatments
2	Communication, consultations, and client assistance	21
	The individual needs to know and understand: The importance of overall service experiences The importance of effective communications and inter-personal skills when working with customers and colleagues The hairdresser’s role in maximizing sales
	The individual shall be able to: Prepare and maintain a safe, tidy and welcoming work station Greet and settle the client, while clarifying their wishes or brief Review the client’s wishes or brief in relation to hair type, category, previous treatments and condition, and reach positive agreement on the treatment(s) to be provided Maintain positive contact with the client throughout the treatment Seek feedback from the client before concluding the treatments Offer advice on maintenance and further treatments and products before ensuring a positive departure
3	Cutting	18
	The individual needs to know and understand The nature of different hair types, including facial hair The ethnic classifications of hair The growth characteristics and patterns of hair The relationship between facial shape, body shape, and hair styles
	The individual shall be able to: Appraise the hair relative to the requested style and cutting methods, based on the hair’s category, type, and condition Make and communicate judgments regarding the advisability, suitability, and expected results of the requested style, offering alternatives as advisable Select from the full range of available cutting tools including scissors, thinning scissors, razors, electric clippers (with and without guards) Select cutting method from the full range of cutting methods: blunt, tapering, graduation, layering, texturizing, disconnection, on wet or dry hair Cut facial hair and beard designs ranging from a single beard to more intricate patterns Execute technically demanding cuts Cut hair extensions Cut hair tattoos
4	Colouring	15
	The individual needs to know and understand: The principles underlying the change of colour of hair Options and preferred treatments as they apply to gentlemen’s and ladies’ hairdressing The range of techniques available for temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent colouring, relative to the brief, hair type, classification, and condition The range of techniques available for decolouring and colour correction, relative to the brief, hair type, classification and condition The properties, uses, and limitations of the full range of decolouring/colouring materials and products The impacts of the chemicals upon each other, the hair, and the body The available options for applying colouring/decolouring products to added hair
	The individual shall be able to: Analyse the hair for its capacity to respond to the application of chemicals without adverse effects Recognize and acknowledge the situations where colouring/decolouring and bleaching is not an option Assess the feasibility of clients’ wishes or brief and offer feedback and advice Settle clients and protect the clothes, body, and skin throughout the treatments Administer skin and allergy tests as required, and factor in the results Select and use chemicals and products to lighten, darken, add, and remove colour, including for colour correction Take account of the available time in determining the treatments Determine the number and range of colours and bleaching treatments to complement each other, the style and the cut Apply colouring/decolouring and bleaching products through the process of selection, mixing and preparation, application, development, testing, appraisal, and removal, in conformity with manufacturers’ instructions Apply chemicals according to the length of hair, hair types, non-chemically treated hair, chemically treated hair, or to hair extensions Apply heat, including accelerators, according to the treatment and manufacturers’ instructions
5	Styling	20
	The individual needs to know and understand: The uses and effects of the available drying and thermal equipment The uses and effects of styling products and materials, both conventional and unconventional The uses and effects of the available equipment for use on dry hair The ways in which added hair and ornamentation can be used to enhance a style The uses and effects of finishing products
	The individual shall be able to: Select and use the available drying and styling equipment Select and apply styling materials to support the desired effects Follow the intention and style of cuts throughout the drying process Select and add hair ornamentation as required, during, or after styling, according to the types and purposes of the ornamentation Re-cut hair as required to achieve the desired finishes and styles Select and add hair (attachments with synthetic or natural hair) as required during or after styling, re-cutting them as required Apply final finishing products on clients as required during or after styling, and using industry standards
6	Chemical reformation (permanent waving and straightening)	3
	The individual needs to know and understand: The principles underlying changes to the shape of human hair The range of techniques available for effecting changes to the shape of hair The properties, uses and limitations of the full range of associated products and chemicals The impacts of the chemicals upon each other, the hair, and the body The relationship between hair type, classification, length, and condition and the options for chemical reformation Options and preferred chemical reformation as they apply to gentlemen’s and ladies’ hairdressing
	The individual shall be able to: Analyse hair for its capacity to respond to the application of chemicals without adverse effects, taking account of hair length, type, condition, and previous treatments Administer skin and allergy tests as required, and factor in the results Assess the feasibility of clients’ wishes and offer feedback and advice Take account of the available time in determining chemical reformation treatments Settle clients and protect the clothes, body, and skin throughout treatments Provide optimal conditions for the successful use of chemical reformation products, according to manufacturers’ instructions and health and safety considerations Apply the chemical reformation products through entire processes of selection, mixing and preparation, application, development, testing, appraising results, removal, neutralizing, or re-forming, conditioning, preparation for styling Safeguard hair from excessive finishing while settling from the effects of reformation
7	Special hair treatments, including for special occasions, photography, exhibitions, marketing, and public relations	9
	The individual needs to know and understand: The importance of studying clients’ briefs and of clarifying all areas of uncertainty The factors that bear upon briefs including purpose, context, timetable, budget, client, or model The requirement for props and accessories The range and scope of hair styles and treatments known as “classic” The range and scope of hair styles and treatments known as “avant-garde” Methods and sources of research to prepare for executing clients’ brief The uses of added hair (hair extensions)) and ornamentation relative to their purposes, limitations and impact
	The individual shall be able to: Interrogate the brief and achieve viable responses to all queries Plan all aspects of commissions including purpose, timetable, budget, facilities, work area, model/client, required result, products, and materials, equipment, hair attachments and accessories, clothing, make-up and jewellery, context, and duration Execute briefs as required, paying special attention to (for classic styles): authenticity, elegance, smoothness, cleanliness of lines, timelessness, impact on the message and look, viable and effective use of attachments and accessories, heritage, durability relative to need Execute briefs as required, paying special attention to: fashion and commercial trends, impact on the message and look, creativity, flair, viable, and effective use of conventional and unconventional techniques, materials and products, including attachments and accessories, durability relative to need Make final adjustments in consultation with clients Make use of social media for marketing Make oneself available to effect changes or deal with problems as they arise Conclude commissions in all respects including with a regard to repeat business
	Total	100

References for industry consultation

General notes

WorldSkills is committed to ensuring that the WorldSkills Occupational Standards fully reflect the dynamism of internationally recognized best practice in industry and business. To do this WorldSkills approaches a number of organizations across the world that can offer feedback on the draft Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards on a two-yearly cycle.

In parallel to this, WSI consults three international occupational classifications and databases:

ISCO-08: (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/isco/isco08/)
ESCO: (https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/home )
O*NET OnLine (www.onetonline.org/)

References

This WSOS (Section 2) relates most closely to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists:
https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/39-5012.00,

and Hairdresser:
http://data.europa.eu/esco/isco/C5141.

These links also allow you to explore adjacent occupations

ILO 5141

The following table indicates which organizations were approached and provided valuable feedback for the Description of the Associated Role and WorldSkills Occupational Standards in place for WorldSkills Lyon 2024.

Oranization	Contact name
Oazis Salon	Dusita Suppala, Managing Director
Pivot Point	Jan Laan, Vice President International Business Development
SARL HAIR AGENCY	Raphaël Perrier, CEO
Studio W Salon	Julia Walters, Owner and Stylist
CFP Des Riverains	Carole Perron, Teacher