Hairdressing training returns to Tauranga

Hairstylist trainees in Tauranga will soon be offering low-cost hair-ups, styling, conditioning and colour treatments to the public when a new hairdressing course starts at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology this July.

The full-year NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Salon Support) (Level 3) returns to Tauranga after a three-year hiatus. Toi Ohomai also runs hairdressing courses in Rotorua, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Taupō.

“I’m thrilled to bring hairdressing back to Tauranga,” says Group Manager Debra Laraman. “Hair and beauty is a growing area of the industry and barbering is also becoming very popular, so our team is excited to be preparing students for an expanding workforce.”

The new course focuses on practical, hands-on skills to prepare students for industry.

In recent years, students had been choosing to enter the workforce directly into apprenticeships, or for work experience, however Ms Laraman said “considerable feedback” from industry prompted Toi Ohomai to bring hairdressing training back to Tauranga.

“Employers want staff with training behind them, who can hit the floor running. Our training salon operates just like a commercial hair salon so the students get plenty of real-life experience and learn how to communicate with customers.”

The training salon will be open to Toi Ohomai staff and students and members of the public from August – initially for shampoo, conditioning and colour treatments, and blow waves – with tutor supervision. When the Level 4 hairdressing course starts mid next year, trainees will also be able to offer haircuts and other more specialised services.

Multi award-winning tutor Lynette Smith will run the Tauranga course and says trained students find it much easier to get started in the industry.

“They’re more employable as they don’t need so much training time invested into them at the salon. Students also gain more confidence and skills to be able to deal with clients in a commercial environment that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

To become fully trained, graduates of the Level 3 course go on to complete the NZ Certificate in Hairdressing (Emerging Stylist) (Level 4). Many students also gain work experience at salons while they study.

Visit toiohomai.ac.nz or call 0800 86 46 46 to find out more about the New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing (Salon Support) (Level 3).