West Herts College

West Herts College teaches barbering at its Watford campus through several routes. The full-time Level 2 Diploma in Barbering covers shampooing and conditioning the hair and scalp, cutting men’s hair, styling and drying, cutting and shaping facial hair, scalp massage, colouring and lightening, and client consultation and product advice. Entry is three GCSEs at grades 9-3 including English Language, or a relevant Level 1 qualification, and students work on external clients in the college’s commercial salon.

Part-time options include a VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Barbering taken over a year, and an 18-week Level 2 Award in Cutting Men’s Hair taught on Tuesday evenings, which concentrates on precision cutting, neckline finishes, club cutting, scissors-over-comb and clippers-over-comb, and has no formal entry requirements. A Level 2 Hair Professional barbering apprenticeship is also available for those already employed.