Consultation and advice………………..
Consultation and advice
At the end of this session you Will have learned : The importance of communication and
professionalism in the salon Things to consider in during a consultation Why, when and how to
carry out hair diagnostic tests Refer to textbook, Chapter 6Complete Scenarios
Professional conduct and communication
Hairdressing and barbering are personal services that depend upon the relationships that we
create with our clients . If the relationship is established upon a professional footing, then there
will be; mutual respect, good customer service and an on-going, client loyalty .This client loyalty
is essential if we are going to get; returning customers, gain new clients and build-up a good
reputation for the future .
Communication When you communicate with your clients, you will need to :Speak clearly in the
correct manner using the right tone of voice .Avoid confusion with clients, don’t use ‘jargon’ or
hairdressing technical language Listen and respond appropriately and willingly to their
requests .Be polite, friendly and considerate; try to anticipate your client’s needs .Be discrete and
confidential; especially when handling information about the salon’s clients .Show a positive body
language .Behave like a professional .
Behave like a professional
Always dress and behave professionally within the salon – you will not believe how much your
appearance has on what your client thinks about you .When we meet someone for the first time,
it is human nature to rush into making our first impression of what we see .This judgement, rightly
or wrongly, is a lasting impression and in a professional setting, it has to be the right one.
Behave like a professional
The client assumes your professionalism by :The way that you dress, in what you wear and how
you wear it Your appearance, i.e. your tidiness, cleanliness and your hair The way you behave
and relate to other members of staff Complete Activity 1 Standards of behaviour
Analysis There are two basic parts to client consultation:
You discuss your client’s requirements You see if there are any reasons why you cannot fulfil
their requests .The analysis of the client’s hair takes the form of a visual inspection, so you will
need to brush and separate the hair in several directions and in different areas over the head.
This visual assessment will help you to find any; hair features, contra-indications or aspects that
will either limit or change the range of options available to your client .
Analysis -You are looking for anything that could affect or influence your decisions :Hair texture
Hair length Hair growth patterns Hair shape Hair density Hair colour
Analysis Hair problems Infections and scalp problems
Face and body shapes Lifestyle Hair condition Using a variety of tests can help you with some of
the areas you need to find out about.
Consultation – things to consider
Hair texture Texture refers to the thickness of individual hairs. Hair texture can be :Coarse –
thicker in cross-section than other hair with several layers of cuticle Medium – moderately thick
with many layers of cuticle Fine – with fewer layers of cuticle Very fine – with only a few layers of
cuticle
Consultation – things to consider
Hair length Length can be ;Long – one length and extends beyond the shoulders and down the
client’s back Long – in layers and extends beyond the shoulders and down the client’s back
Medium – one length and extends to the shoulders or just beyond Medium – in layers and
extends to the shoulders or just beyond Short – one length and finishes at a point above the
shoulders Short – in layers and covers a variety of hairstyles that do not extend to the shoulders
Consultation – things to consider
Hair Growth Patterns Cowlick – A strong, upward directional growth pattern that affects the front
hairline and creates problems for fringe directions and the ‘lie’ of the hair .Double crown – An
unusual growth feature where two crowns exist instead of one, which affects the hair over the top
of the head and the lie of the hair over the rear parting and back of the head .Widow’s peak This
growth pattern appears at the centre of the front hairline. The hair grows upward and forward,
forming a strong peak. Similarly, to the ‘cowlick’ this pattern creates problems for fringes and the
lie of the hair .Nape whorl – This appears as ‘sideways’ growth pattern at either or both sides of
the nape. It can make the hair difficult to cut into a straight neckline or close cut graduated layers.
(This will often form a V-shape.)Male pattern baldness – A hereditary condition passed from
father to son, where a progressive thinning occurs around the crown, at the top of the head, or at
the sides of the front hairline.
Consultation – things to consider
Hair type Appearance Properties Asian hair A round shape in cross-section producing straighter
hair tendency Normally have up to 12 layers of cuticle .It is usually coarser in texture and often
resistant to chemicals .Caucasian hair More oval in cross-section producing a wavy hair
tendency Normally have up to 8 or 9 layers of cuticle .It is usually medium, or fine to medium in
texture and generally quite susceptible (easy) to processing chemically .African Caribbean hair
‘kidney-shaped’ in cross-section producing a curly or frizzier tendency No more than 5 layers of
cuticle .It is usually finer in texture and delicate or fragile in chemical processing or heat styling.
Consultation – things to consider
Hair density The amount and distribution of hair growing from the scalp will affect the things that
you can do :Thick – Lots of hair growing closely together produces a very thick effect that takes
longer to style and dry .Medium – A moderate amount that would give an even coverage and
would be easy to style .Thin or thinning – Usually accompanied with finer or very fine hair types.
The distribution of hair over the scalp may be the same as medium hair but will have poorer
coverage and will often show the scalp through when styling; it could also be related to male
pattern baldness or some other form of alopecia
Consultation – things to consider
Hair colour Hair colour can be either :Natural colour – A result of the naturally occurring pigments
that are produced in the living part of the hair. The pigments are collectively called melanin and
are made up from : Pheomelanin – a yellow or golden pigment Eumelanin – a brown or ashen
pigment Trichosiderin – a very rare red pigment (found in natural red heads)Artificial colour –
Thethe result of either: adding chemicals that deposit, semi-, quasi- or permanent hair colour to
the hair, or by removing the natural pigments to produce lightened or bleached effects.
Consultation – things to consider
Hair problems Infections and scalp problems Contra-indications – There is a wide variety of hair
and scalp diseases or dysfunctions that affect or limit your client’s styling options.
Consultation – things to consider
Facial shapes Different facial shapes suit different styles :Oval face shape suits any
hairstyle .Round faces need height to reduce the width of the face. A centre parting can also help
to reduce width .Long faces are improved with short, wider hairstyles .Square faces need round
shapes with texture on to the face to soften them. Longer lengths beyond the jaw line improve
the balance and proportion .Triangular faces can often benefit from hair around the jaw-line to
reduce the narrowness of the chin. These facial shapes will often suit short, ‘head hugging’
layered styles with soft, textured edges .Complete Activities 2 Face shapes and 3 Styles for face
shapes
Consultation – things to consider
Lifestyles Your client’s lifestyle will have a huge impact upon the ways in which they can manage
their hair .Working clients want practical and manageable styles for their jobs .Nurses, doctors
and people in the services like; the police, army, navy, air force, may require styles, which keep
the hair off the face, or they may have to wear hats or helmets .Sporty, athletic people need
hairstyles that are easy to manage and are not in the way People who meet and greet others or
represent their companies in sales or services have a professional image to keep Younger
children need simpler styles that are easy to maintain in the mornings, before going to school
Consultation – things to consider
Hair condition The condition of the hair will affect the manageability and durability of a
hairstyle .Conditions can be :Porous hair Damaged hair Dry hair Normal hair Greasy / oily
Diagnostic tests Discuss how diagnostic tests can help the consultation process and the
achievement of a good result during the service .Research the types of test that can be used for
this purpose .Complete Activity 4 Diagnostic tests
Diagnostic tests
Make a chart showing :The test Why it is carried out When it is carried out How it is carried out
Task Research the types of test that can be used for this purpose .Diagnostic tests Sensitivity
test (skin test or patch test)Porosity test Elasticity test Incompatibility test Pre-perm test curl Test
cutting Strand test Development test curl Complete Activity 4 Diagnostic tests
Diagnostic tests
Why to do the test When to do the test How to do the test Sensitivity test (skin test or patch
test)Porosity test Elasticity test Incompatibility test Pre-perm test curl Test cutting Strand test
Development test curl Task: Carry out a some diagnostic tests and discuss your findings with the
group
Consultation and advice
Revisit lesson aims :The importance of communication and professionalism in the salon .Things
to consider in during a consultation .Why, when and how to carry out hair diagnostic tests .Carry
out beat the clock quiz .Complete Beat the clock quiz