This City & Guilds Level 2 Technical Award in Hair and Beauty Studies (3038-24) qualification allows you to explore the exciting world of hair and beauty and the environment in which its industries operate. If you enjoy looking back in time to explore changing trends and developments within the hair and beauty sector, find out how science is used to create products, and understand why we create images for business use, then this qualification is for you.

You will study how hair and beauty has developed from ancient times to the present day and develop hair styling, make-up and manicure technical skills to produce your own photographic image. You will explore the ethics of product testing, effects of ingredients on hair and skin and how disorders of the hair and skin can impact services. This qualification has three units:

• Exploring the world of hair and beauty

• Science of hair and beauty

• Design in the hair and beauty sector.

The qualification develops the following knowledge, understanding and skills:

• specific services carried out within the hair and beauty sectors, roles and responsibilities and typical working patterns

• evolution of hair and beauty from use in ancient times to the mid-90s

• how technological advancements, changes to the economy, and social factors have influenced the sector

• chemistry of cosmetics and biology related to hair and beauty

• uses of design and images for business use

• technical hair styling, make-up and manicure skills.

Your understanding and skills can be developed further through progression to other qualifications, such as A levels or specific to a sector, including:

• City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy/Beauty Consultancy/Hair and Media Makeup

• City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing/ Barbering

You would also find the understanding and skills useful to progress to an apprenticeship.