CDACC Hairdressing study materials
CDACC Hairdressing study resources

CDACC Hairdressing study plan

CDACC Hairdressing · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Hair Cutting and Styling

  • Map the four foundation cutting forms (one-length, graduated, layered, uniform-layered) and sketch the elevation, distribution and finger-position for each from memory

  • Demonstrate sectioning and parting patterns on a mannequin, taking and recording the nine head-section reference points

  • Practise blunt and point-cutting on wet and dry hair, logging which produces a clean line versus a soft interior weight line

  • Identify the cutting tools in a professional kit and state the maintenance and disinfection routine for each

Your checkpoint

A photographed mannequin set of three finished cuts (blunt one-length, 45-degree graduated, and a layered shape) with a written rationale for the elevation and distribution used in each

Week 2

Hair Cutting and Styling & Hair Colouring and Lightening

  • Explain the colour wheel and the underlying pigment of each natural depth level from 1 to 10, and predict the result of lightening without toning

  • Classify developers by volume and state the lift and deposit behaviour of each

  • Perform a patch test and a strand test on a mannequin, documenting timing, development and the final result

  • Cut and finish a style using blow-drying and thermal tools, then evaluate the finish against a client brief

Your checkpoint

A colour-theory one-page reference sheet plus a strand-test log showing at least three developer strengths with recorded lift and deposit outcomes

Week 3

Hair Colouring and Lightening

  • Differentiate full-head, partial and foil highlighting placement patterns and choose one for a stated client goal

  • Apply a global tint and a foil highlight on a mannequin, correctly mixing, applying, timing and removing product

  • Describe the chemistry of oxidation and how hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and dye intermediates interact in permanent colour

  • Identify the signs of an allergic reaction and the corrective steps for a colour that develops too dark or too warm

Your checkpoint

A completed mannequin colour service (one global application plus foil highlights) with before-and-after photographs and a written mixing and timing record

Week 4

Chemical Hair Services (Perming and Relaxing) & Occupational Safety and Health in the Salon

  • Explain the chemistry of perming and relaxing, including the role of the reducing agent, the neutraliser and the disulphide bond

  • Perform a perm wind on a mannequin using at least two rod sizes and a consistent subsection and tension pattern

  • State the safety controls for chemical services: ventilation, gloves, barrier cream, client record-keeping and the manufacturer's maximum processing time

  • Conduct a salon hazard walk-through and record the control measures for chemical, electrical, slip and ergonomic hazards

Your checkpoint

A completed mannequin perm with a written processing and neutralising record, plus a salon risk-assessment sheet covering at least eight identified hazards

Week 5

Braiding, Weaving and Extensions & Shampooing, Conditioning and Scalp Care

  • Prepare hair for braiding and extensions by sectioning, detangling and applying the correct base product

  • Execute at least three braid types (for example box braids, cornrows and a two-strand twist) with even tension and a neat parting

  • Explain the difference between braiding, weaving and bonding extensions and state the tension and scalp-health checks for each

  • Demonstrate shampooing, conditioning and a scalp massage, selecting products for dry, oily and sensitive scalps

Your checkpoint

A photographed braiding portfolio of three distinct styles with a written note on the tension, sectioning and aftercare advice given for each

Week 6

Salon Reception, Client Care and Consultation & Salon Business, Entrepreneurship and Customer Relations

  • Run a structured client consultation using a checklist that covers hair history, lifestyle, allergies, expectations and the agreed service plan

  • Draft a price list and a simple service-costing sheet that includes product, time and overhead

  • Build a client-record card template and explain the data-protection and confidentiality rules that apply to it

  • Practise handling an unhappy client and a service complaint using a scripted resolution sequence

Your checkpoint

A complete consultation pack containing a client-record card, a price list with three costed services, and a written complaint-handling procedure

Week 7

Salon Business, Entrepreneurship and Customer Relations & Occupational Safety and Health in the Salon

  • Identify the legal and regulatory obligations of a small salon, including licensing, waste disposal and record retention

  • Calculate a break-even point from a set of fixed and variable costs and interpret what it means for pricing

  • Outline a basic marketing plan for a new salon covering positioning, channels and a client-retention tactic

  • Explain the correct procedures for chemical spillage, fire evacuation and first aid in a salon setting

Your checkpoint

A one-page salon business plan summary with a break-even calculation, a marketing outline and an emergency-procedure appendix

Week 8

Professional Ethics, Communication and Employability Skills & Salon Reception, Client Care and Consultation & Hair Colouring and Lightening

  • Demonstrate professional communication in a role-play consultation, including active listening, questioning and explaining technical information in plain language

  • State the ethical duties of a hairdresser regarding informed consent, hygiene, honesty about achievable results and client confidentiality

  • Build a personal employability profile listing transferable skills, a CV outline and answers to common interview questions

  • Complete a timed mock exam across all nine domains and review every incorrect answer against the source material

Your checkpoint

A timed mock-exam score sheet with a written review of every missed question, plus a two-page CV and a role-play consultation self-assessment

Milestones

Week 2: Can cut a blunt one-length and a graduated shape from memory and explain the elevation and distribution used, and can state the underlying pigment for any natural depth level

Week 4: Can complete a perm wind and a colour service on a mannequin with full safety controls recorded, and can list at least eight salon hazards with controls

Week 6: Can run a full client consultation from a checklist, produce a costed price list, and complete three braid styles with even tension

Week 8: Scores at least 70 percent on the timed all-domain mock exam, with a written review of every missed question and a completed CV and consultation self-assessment