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Hair and Beauty

Transform your passion for beauty and aesthetics into a fulfilling career.

Learn the skills and experiences needed for this ever-changing industry in a range of areas, including Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty.

Hairdressing student and tutor working on a client

Elwick Salon

You will train in our industry-standard salons, where you can work with professional equipment on real-life clients.

These will give you the experiences you need to make it in the industry, and put you above the competition.

Our salon and spa is open for appointments throughout the academic year.

Hairdressing student and tutor working on a client

Practical Experiences

As well as working in our on-site salons, our students also get lots of practical experiences outside the course, such as working on hair and beauty makoevers for charities in our community.

Hairdressing student working on a client

Skills Competitions

Throughout their course, all our Hair and Beauty students get the chance to take part in competitions, such as the KFE4Skills Awards.

Hairdressing student Alanna (left) came 2nd in the KFE4Skills23 Finals for her Masquerade look.

Beauty student massaging a clients hands.

What our Beauty students have to say

Maisie and Casey have always had an interest in Beauty so they decided they wanted to make a career out of it. They enjoy the course and think  College has taught them a wide variety of skills, ready for the workplace.

Their favourite treatment to provide is waxing, both girls find it very therapeutic and satisfying. They both enjoying being able to see a big difference in their clients before and after.

Adult Learning

We offer a variety of short courses, specifically designed for adult learners. Whether you’re looking to begin a new career, upskill and add services to your offer or simply learn more about a hobby, we’ve got a course for you.

How you apply for a course at EKC Ashford College

Step 1 – Find a subject you’re interested in

Explore our Hair and Beauty courses, and see what is right for you.

Step 2 – Apply

Apply on our website through our application portal.

Step 3 – Come to an interview

Come along to an applicant day here at EKC Ashford College, where you can meet our team and enrol onto one of our courses.

Outside shot of Ashford College

Career prospects

Example:
Salon Proprietors
£
£20,800
Annual pay
Annual pay is per year, based on full-time employment and on the South East region.
Role description
Job holders in this unit group plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of hairdressing salons, beauty treatment and similar establishments.
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“I’ve always had a passion for hairdressing and knew I wanted to do something within Hair and Beauty industry as a career. I enjoy colouring the most, and would love to specialise as a colourist in the future because I get to be really creative and fun with my work, and every result is different.”

Phoebe Page
Level 3 Hairdressing

“I qualified as a hairdresser 20 years ago but after years of not doing it, I decided it was time to come back into education to retrain. It was the best decision and I immediately fell back in love with it. I’m in a group of other mature students so we’re all on the same wave length and get on really well. It also helps that our tutor is fantastic.”

Lucy Carter
Level 3 Women's Hairdressing

It’s great working with real clients because we get to experience what it will actually be like working within a proper salon, and we can work on our customer service alongside the technical skills we’re learning. I’m really looking forward to the future, I’d love to start my own business and be able to work for myself one day.”

Jessica Smith
Level 3 Hairdressing

We’re part of six community-based colleges

Our mission is to play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the diverse communities we serve.