Client Consultation, Analysis and Communication
What this domain tests
Whether you can run a structured consultation: greet, question, analyse hair and scalp, agree a realistic plan, record it, obtain informed consent and give aftercare - while communicating without jargon and recognising when to stop.
The sequence
- Open questions first ("What would you like to change?"), closed questions to confirm detail ("Is that the shade you mean?"); paraphrase back to check understanding.
- Analyse: texture, density, porosity, elasticity, condition, scalp condition, growth patterns, previous chemical services, home colour history.
- Consider face shape, lifestyle, occupation, time and budget for maintenance.
- Contraindications and cautions: previous allergic reaction to PPD, patch test not done (48 hours before, per manufacturer), scalp abrasions or infection, isotretinoin-type medication, recent chemotherapy, pregnancy - check manufacturer guidance and refer where unsure.
- Record everything on the client card and get consent before starting.
Worked example
A client with box-dyed level 4 hair wants level 8. That is four levels of lift: 20 vol lifts roughly one to two levels and 40 vol two to three, so one tint application cannot deliver it. Plan: strand test, remove build-up if needed, pre-lighten with bleach and 20 vol on the scalp, then tone - at level 8 the exposed underlying pigment is yellow-orange, so a violet-ash toner controls it. Reassess condition before the second stage.
Traps that cost marks
Promising a result from a photograph; skipping the patch test or the record card; not asking about medication or previous colour; agreeing to a service the hair cannot withstand instead of offering a staged plan; using technical language the client cannot check.