About this module
Everyone needs their hair done. A skilled, clean, friendly hairdresser or barber is never short of customers.
Who it is for. People with no formal certificate. National Proficiency I is a bridging level for people with minimal education.
Why hairdressing and barbering
- In a large randomised study of Ghana's National Apprenticeship Program, hairdressing was the trade where trainees gained self-employment earnings, more assets and better mental health.
- A barber near a school in Accra reported 30–40 clients a day; customers said they choose for "satisfaction and hygiene".
- Sekondi-Takoradi's Assembly has given barbering and hairdressing tools to persons with disabilities.
- A deaf hairdresser in Ghana, trained by the deaf association's women's wing, works with pictures of styles on her phone and a wall chart.
CTVET status. Cosmetology is certified at National Proficiency I and II under CTVET's competency-based system. Its unit list was not found online, so this module is not that curriculum. In the Western Region, the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) examines apprentices, who can then take the NVTI certificate exam.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent from what your assessor sees, asks and reads in your logbook. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme, which uses about 30% in school and 70% at the workplace.
Unit 1 · Hygiene and infection control
A dirty razor can pass hepatitis B or HIV in blood. A dirty comb can pass ringworm. Clean tools protect clients and your name.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Use a new blade | uses a new blade for every client; disposes of it safely |
| 1.2 Disinfect tools | cleans then disinfects tools for the full contact time |
| 1.3 Keep the station clean | uses clean towels and capes; washes hands between clients |
| 1.4 Spot scalp problems | recognises ringworm and refers the client |
Range. Every client. Evidence. Observation every session.
Why it matters
Hepatitis B can spread through shared razors and manicure tools contaminated with blood. In a study of 200 Kumasi barbershops, all barbers used a new blade per client, but only 2% were vaccinated against hepatitis B and none changed the apron or washed hands between clients. Ask a clinic about the hepatitis B vaccine for yourself.
Disinfect properly
- Clean off hair and dirt first.
- Fully immerse combs, brushes, clipper blades, scissors and razors in disinfectant for 10 minutes.
- Rinse and dry; store in a clean, closed container.
Mix and change the disinfectant exactly as the label says.
Ringworm
Scalp ringworm ("kaka were were") spreads by shared combs and brushes; treatment takes 6–8 weeks. If you see scaly, round bald patches, do not cut: politely refer the client to a clinic, and disinfect everything.
Clean or not?
- Kojo reuses a blade on two brothers.
- Ama soaks combs in disinfectant for 10 minutes after cleaning them.
- Kwame uses the same towel for three clients.
- Esi sees round scaly bald patches and refers the client.
- Yaw sprays clippers for two seconds and carries on.
Hygiene routine
- Wash hands; put on a fresh cape and towel.
- Clean and disinfect a set of tools for the full time.
- Fit a new blade; dispose of the old one in the sharps container.
- Reset the station for the next client.
Watch and learn
Visit a salon or barbershop. Note what they do between clients. What would you do better?
Unit 2 · Chemicals, heat and your body
Relaxers, dyes and hot tools can burn. Standing all day can hurt your back. Protect your clients and yourself.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Relax safely | protects the scalp; times and rinses correctly |
| 2.2 Patch test dye | does a patch test 48 hours before dyeing |
| 2.3 Use heat safely | uses hot tools and water without burns |
| 2.4 Care for your body | uses good posture and breaks |
Range. Relaxers, dyes, hot combs, dryers. Evidence. Observation; oral questions.
Relaxers
Both lye and "no-lye" relaxers can burn the scalp. Do not scratch or brush the scalp before, put petroleum jelly on the scalp and hairline, leave on only for the time stated, rinse with neutralising shampoo, and wait 6–8 weeks between treatments. Wear gloves.
Dyes
Do a patch test before every dye: put a little behind the ear or inside the elbow and wait two days. Reactions can appear up to 72 hours later; swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing, is an emergency.
Smoothing treatments and banned products
Some keratin and smoothing products release formaldehyde, which can damage the eyes and lungs; "methylene glycol" on the label means formaldehyde. Use good ventilation. Hydroquinone (a skin-bleaching chemical) is banned in cosmetics in Ghana; sell only FDA-registered products.
Heat
Dipping braid ends in hot water has burned many children's backs and shoulders. Protect the client's skin with a towel and use water just hot enough to seal.
Your body
In a study of 652 hairdressers, 70% had muscle pain, mostly shoulder, neck and lower back; standing 11–15 hours a day made pain much more likely. Adjust chair height, take breaks and stretch.
Safe chemical service
- Do a patch test on a volunteer (dye) and record the date and result after 48 hours.
- On a mannequin, demonstrate scalp protection, timing and rinsing for a relaxer.
- Show safe braid-sealing with a towel guard.
Read the labels
Read the labels of three hair products at a shop. Is each FDA-registered? Any warnings?
Unit 3 · Client care and consultation
Listen first. Agree the style and price before you start.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Welcome the client | greets, seats and protects the client |
| 3.2 Consult | agrees the style, time and price using pictures |
| 3.3 Finish well | shows the result, advises on care, books the next visit |
Range. All clients, including deaf clients. Evidence. Role plays; client feedback.
The consultation
- Greet the client by name.
- Look at the hair and scalp (Unit 1).
- Show the style chart or pictures; agree the style.
- Agree the time and price before starting.
- Ask about allergies and past chemical treatments.
Picture charts and phone photos help every client, and make it easy for deaf hairdressers and clients to communicate.
Consultation role play
- In pairs, run a full consultation using the style chart.
- Agree time and price; write them down.
- Finish: show the result in the mirror and give one care tip.
Make a style chart
Make a picture chart of ten styles with names and prices.
Unit 4 · Barbering basics
Clean lines, even fades and a sharp line-up keep men coming back every two weeks.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Use clippers and guards | chooses the right guard for the length |
| 4.2 Cut basic styles | does a full low cut and a basic fade |
| 4.3 Line up and trim beards | gives a clean line-up and beard trim |
Range. Mannequins, then volunteer clients. Evidence. Finished cuts; photos.
Clipper guards
| Guard | Length left |
|---|---|
| 0 or ½ | about 1.5 mm |
| 1 | about 3 mm |
| 2 | about 6 mm |
| 3 | about 10 mm |
| 4 | about 13 mm |
| 8 | about 25 mm |
The higher the number, the longer the hair. Public senior high schools require low hair, so many students need cuts before school reopens.
Cutting practice
- Do a full low cut with one guard on a mannequin.
- Do a basic fade blending two guards.
- Line up the hairline and trim a beard on a volunteer.
- Photograph each finished cut for your portfolio.
Ten cuts
Log ten practice cuts with the guard used and the time taken.
Unit 5 · Hairdressing basics
Washing, braiding, cornrows and simple styling are the daily bread of a salon.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Wash and condition | shampoos and conditions without wetting the client |
| 5.2 Braid and cornrow | makes neat, even braids and cornrows without pulling too tight |
| 5.3 Style and finish | does a simple style and finish |
Range. Mannequins and volunteer clients. Evidence. Finished styles; photos.
Time and tension
Knotless braids take about 3–12 hours, depending on size: jumbo 2–3.5 hours, small 6–9 hours. Quote the time honestly. Braiding too tight damages the hair and scalp: ask the client if it hurts.
Salon practice
- Shampoo and condition a client.
- Make a row of cornrows and a section of box braids on a mannequin.
- Do one complete simple style on a volunteer; time it.
- Photograph for your portfolio.
Practise at home
Practise cornrows on a family member who agrees. Note the time and what to improve.
Unit 6 · Your location and business ideas
Put your chair where people already walk, and sell more than haircuts.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Choose a location | scores sites with the checklist |
| 6.2 Know the fees | lists permit fees for the chosen service |
| 6.3 Add income ideas | plans at least three extra lines |
Range. Real or planned sites. Evidence. Location report; business plan.
Choosing a location
Accra barbers set up near schools, from table-top stands to bigger shops; Friday to Sunday are busiest. Ghana's Rent Act limits advance rent to six months, though many Takoradi landlords still ask for one or two years. Women have opened home salons to cut costs.
- Footfall. Near schools, markets, estates, lorry stations or offices.
- Visible. Seen from the road; room for a sign.
- Water and power. For washing and clippers; plan for outages.
- Competition. Few shops nearby, or a clear way to stand out.
- Rent you can afford without borrowing more than you can repay.
- Access for all. A step-free entrance and a chair a wheelchair user can reach.
Assembly fees (STMA 2025, per year)
| Category | GH¢ |
|---|---|
| Barbering shop, small / medium / large | 150 / 250 / 350 |
| Braiding only | 130 |
| Small salon | 100 |
| Salon with pedicure, manicure and braiding | 760 |
| Cosmetic and hair product retail | 200 |
Ideas to earn more
- Sell products: hair food, combs, wigs, beard oil (FDA-registered only).
- Wig making, installation and revamping, as a Takoradi business does.
- School reopening rush: advertise low cuts before school terms start.
- Home and event service for weddings and funerals.
- Children's cuts on Saturdays.
- Train apprentices once you are skilled.
Ten clients
Ask ten people near your chosen site what services they want, how often, and at what price.
Unit 7 · Market yourself and manage the money
Your work is your advertisement. Photograph it, share it, and ask clients to tell friends.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Market yourself | builds a photo portfolio and online profiles |
| 7.2 Price a service | prices a service with all costs |
| 7.3 Keep records | records clients, services and money |
Range. The trainee's planned business. Evidence. Portfolio; price list; record book.
Show your work
- Before-and-after photos (with the client's permission) on WhatsApp Status, Instagram and TikTok. One Ghanaian braider's before-and-after video got over 1.2 million views.
- Google Business Profile (free) puts you on Google Maps with photos, hours and reviews.
- Ghanaian small fashion and beauty firms use WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook to reach customers.
- Clean shop, clean tools, clean towels. Customers choose for hygiene.
- A clear price list: no authority publishes salon prices, so customers compare.
- Loyalty: every 10th cut at half price; a small gift for referrals.
Price a haircut
Your costs per month: rent GH¢400, power GH¢150, blades and disinfectant GH¢100, permit GH¢150 ÷ 12. You do 20 cuts a day, 25 days a month. (1) Monthly costs? (2) Cost per cut? (3) If you charge GH¢30, profit per month?
Launch kit
- Build a portfolio of 10 before-and-after photos.
- Set up a WhatsApp Business profile and a Google Business Profile (or a draft).
- Make a price list and a style chart for the wall.
- Start a client book: date, name, service, price, next visit.
Five reviews
After working on five volunteer clients, ask each for a short review.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
| Contact time | How long a tool must stay in disinfectant |
| Fade | A cut that blends from short to longer hair |
| Guard | Clip-on comb that sets the clipper length |
| Line-up | A sharp, clean hairline edge |
| Patch test | Testing a dye on the skin 48 hours before use |
| Relaxer | A chemical that straightens hair |
| Sharps container | A safe box for used blades |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: hygiene routine checks
- Unit 2: patch test records; chemical service checks
- Unit 3: consultation notes; style chart
- Unit 4: cut log with guards and times; photos
- Unit 5: style log with times; photos
- Unit 6: location report; ten clients
- Unit 7: portfolio; price list; client book
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- Which infections can spread through a shared razor?
- How long must tools stay in disinfectant?
- What do you do if you see scalp ringworm?
- What goes on the scalp before a relaxer?
- How long before dyeing do you do a patch test?
- What does "methylene glycol" on a label mean?
- What does a number 2 guard leave?
- Why agree the price before starting?
- Name three extra income ideas.
- Name two free ways to show your work online.
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: your disinfectant's label; the US FDA's advice on hair products; the GHABA branch in your zone.
What this module does not cover: advanced colouring, chemical straightening as a specialty, nail and skin care, and salon prices in Takoradi (not found; compare locally).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.