Course information

If you're passionate about hair and ready to take your skills to a more advanced level, this course is the perfect next step. The VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing is designed to develop your creative and technical abilities, giving you the confidence and competence to take on more senior roles within the industry. Whether you aim to become a senior stylist, colour specialist, or salon owner, this qualification provides the tools and knowledge to help you succeed.

During the course, you’ll build on your existing experience and learn advanced hairdressing techniques including precision cutting, colour correction, creative styling and finishing. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of client consultation, health and safety and how to promote products and services effectively in a salon environment. Training is delivered in a realistic working salon, allowing you to develop your skills on real clients while being supported by experienced tutors and industry-standard equipment.

Whether your ambition is to progress within a salon, work freelance, or even start your own business, this course will give you the qualifications, confidence and creative edge to grow in the hairdressing industry. It also opens up progression routes into further specialist training, management roles or teaching in the future.

When courses start

Date: Monday 15 September 2025 to Monday 6 July 2026
Time: 9:30am to 6:30pm
Duration: 35 weeks (1 class per week)

What you will learn

This qualification focuses on developing advanced technical and creative skills in a commercial salon environment. You will cover these mandatory units:

  • Monitor and maintain health and safety practice in the salon

    • You will recognise salon hazards, carry out risk assessments and then implement the necessary actions. You will monitor and support your colleagues to ensure your salon complies with health and safety requirements.

  • Hairdressing consultation support for colleagues

    • You will use your personal client consultation skills to assist in the following areas: the use of effective communication techniques, how to recognise hair, skin and scalp disorders, when to use a range of hair tests, knowing when to refer conditions to professionals and how to maintain up-to-date client records.

  • Colour hair to create a variety of looks

    • The aim of this unit is to develop your creative skills to advanced level to combine, adapt and personalise a range of colouring and lightening techniques to achieve a variety of fashion effects that complement a style.

  • Cut hair to create a variety of hairdressing looks

    • Develop your cutting skills to an advanced level, to enable you to create a personalised and individual look for your clients.

  • Style and dress hair using a variety of techniques

    • You will develop the ability to combine and adapt a variety of styling and finishing methods, including the use of ornamentation, to produce individual finished effects.

  • Promote products and services

    • Understand how to upsell treatments and retail products to support business growth and improve client satisfaction.

    How you will be assessed

    You will be assessed through a combination of practical observations on real clients, portfolio of evidence and exams. Assessment will take place throughout the course to monitor your progress and ensure you are meeting industry standards.

    Progression opportunities

    On successful completion of the course, you could progress into employment as a senior stylist or colour technician or begin working as a freelance or mobile hairdresser. This qualification also supports progression into higher-level study such as teacher training, salon management, or specialist hairdressing qualifications.

    Entry requirements

    Before enroling you will need to complete a short English and Maths assessment to make sure this course is suitable for you.

    If you’d prefer to speak with someone, you can also book an assessment session by contacting our Learning Support team on 0208 496 2974.

    Get in Touch

    Whether you need to get in touch to join a course, let us know if you're unable to attend your course, raise a query, let us know your feedback or anything else, contact us using the options below. You can also talk to an adviser live by clicking on the green speech bubble in the bottom right of the screen.

    Email

    adult.learning@walthamforest.gov.uk

    Phone

    020 8496 2974

    Address

    Queens Road Learning Centre
    97 Queens Road
    Walthamstow
    London
    E17 8QR