Choice of Challenge and Setup
I had been considering an appropriate and suitably interesting, challenging and achievable learning task… I was intrigued to see that motor skills could be considered as well as more cognitive knowledge-based tasks. So I was considering a range of things when I happened to be at the hairdresser and a new junior was being assisted by a senior colleague while she washed my hair. That got me thinking…
Speaking with the senior stylist there, a L’Oreal I.D. Expert, who I happen to know is one of the top hairdressers trainers in Scotland, and an award winner, I asked what a junior hairdresser can expect to learn in their first training periods and how long such training takes. We chatted about the initial skills: hair washing; customer interaction; blow drying; colour removal; colouring; etc.
Training typically takes place on a half day when the salon is closed, and practiced on dummies, and colleagues. And then taken into the salon gradually. We chatted more and I explained about the learning challenge. I could sense an opportunity.
Rational for Choice of Learning Challenge
I think this might be a novel and fun challenge. Quite different to what I normally do. Involving interaction with different people. The Stylist thought it would be cute to have a skill where I could offer to professional blow dry my wife’s hair. When I mentioned this to my wife she said she would prefer me to get a motor skill like ironing, cooking or painting windows! She also said that it was a good job I had not been to the dentist and suggested that as a learning challenge!
A plan of action:
week 1: approval for challenge from tutor. Application to hairdresser. Practicalities. Time to look at alternative if not possible.
week 2: contingency time in case hairdressing not possible.
weeks 3-5: 3 training sessions: a) introduction to skills, hair washing, customer social skills; b) blow drying techniques or various styles; colouring.
week 6: write up and lessons learned, how to pass on the skills
week 7-8: trial passing on the skills
week 9: write up
Point of Contact:
- Karen Temple, L’Oreal I.D. Expert
- Jason Hall Hairdressing, 101 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1AL
- Tel: 0131 444 1244
- Training sessions: Wednesday mornings
Status
Application as a Junior Hairdresser made on 16-Sep-2011 to Karen Temple. Confirmation that this should be possible. Discussions to take place in week of 18-Sep-2011.