Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair & Level 3 Certificate in Barbering
A Part-Time Route into Ladies’ and Men’s Hairdressing, with Two VTCT Certificates
This 15-week cutting and barbering course gives you two regulated qualifications: the VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair and the VTCT Level 3 Certificate in Barbering. You’ll learn to cut and finish ladies’ hair before joining the barbering class for men’s cutting, clipper work and facial hair.
We’ve been training hairdressers and barbers for over 60 years. We’re located centrally in the City of London, close to Barbican and the Farringdon Elizabeth Line, in a training environment that mirrors a real working salon. You’ll start on mannequins to build your technique and confidence, then move on to live models, where you’ll learn to adapt your skills to different hair types, textures and individual requirements before completing your assessments.
The programme is built for part-time study. You must attend for at least three consecutive days each week, leaving the rest of the week free to work. Cutting starts on day two after your induction.
This course is for complete beginners who want to work across ladies’ and men’s hair. If you’re aiming for a unisex salon or want the flexibility to work freelance in both disciplines, this is the part-time hairdressing and barbering course that gives you a regulated certificate in each.
Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair & Level 3 Certificate in Barbering – Key Course Details
Duration
15 weeks (75 days)
Location
London (1 Hayne Street, EC1A 9HG)
Next Start Dates
19th October
16th November
2027
By Request
Schedule
Monday–Friday, 10am–3:30pm (part-time available – minimum 3 consecutive days per week)
Qualification
VTCT & Alan d Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair and Level 3 Certificate in Barbering
Full Price
£9,000 inc. VAT
Early Payment Price
£8,100 inc. VAT (10% discount – pay in full 1 month before start)
Payment Plan
£1,000 deposit and 10 weekly payments of £800
Additional Costs
VTCT Registration Fee & equipment
Payment Plan
£500 deposit and 4 weekly payments of £625
Class Size
Maximum 10 new learners per month
What You’ll Learn
Teaching Approach
Training is hands-on from the start. After your induction, you’ll begin cutting hair on day two and spend most of the course practising. Your trainers introduce the essential theory as the practical work develops, so you can apply it straight away.
Attending for at least three consecutive days gives you enough continuity to repeat a technique, receive feedback and return to it while it is still fresh.
Curriculum Highlights
The two phases cover the foundation skills used in ladies’ hairdressing and barbering.
- The 9 Alan d foundation haircuts
- Finishing techniques and blow-drying
- Client consultation and care
- Monitoring and maintaining health and safety in the salon
- Barbering with scissors, scissor-over-comb and clippers
- Beard and moustache trimming, client care and barbershop protocol
Hairdressing: Cutting Programme
Hairdressing comes first. You’ll work through the 9 Alan d Foundation Haircuts, learning how each cut is put together before applying the techniques in practice. This part of the course also covers finishing, client consultation, professional shampooing, blow-drying hair smooth or curly, and monitoring and maintaining health and safety in the salon.
Barbering Programme (the Second Part of the Course)
The second part moves into barbering. You’ll cut with scissors and clippers, practise scissor-over-comb, and learn beard and moustache trimming. Shampooing, blow-drying, client care and barbershop protocol are taught alongside the cutting work.
Course Structure
After your induction, you’ll begin the hairdressing phase by practicing on mannequin heads and working through the 9 foundation cuts. This gives you time to repeat each technique and build your confidence before you start working on live models. You’ll then join the barbering class for the second part of the course, where you’ll train in men’s cutting and facial hair. Assessments in both disciplines take place on live models.
Hands-On Experience
Mannequin heads give you the chance to repeat techniques and become more confident before working with a person. Live models are different. Hair varies in type, texture, condition and requirements, so you’ll need to respond to what’s in front of you rather than follow the same process every time. You’ll train on live models before completing your practical assessments on them in both disciplines.
Assessment
These are VTCT-regulated qualifications. Assessment is practical and ongoing, with your trainers monitoring your work and giving you feedback as you progress.
Hairdressing Units
- Cut hair using hairdressing techniques
- Client consultation for hair services
- Follow health and safety practices in the salon
The barbering side is assessed practically on live models. You’ll also have to complete the VTCT online testing as part of the programme. Once you have completed the required work successfully, you’ll receive the VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair and the VTCT Level 3 Certificate in Barbering.
Is This Course Right for You?
Entry Requirements
None. You don’t need any prior qualifications or experience in hairdressing or barbering to enrol. Spoken English is essential since you’ll be communicating with clients and following instructions during training.
This Course is Ideal For
- Anyone looking for a part-time entry into the world of Ladies & Men’s Hairdressing
- Complete beginners who want regulated certificates in hairdressing and barbering
- People planning to work in a unisex salon
- Anyone who wants to freelance across men’s and women’s hair
- Career changers who need to keep working while they train
- People who want both disciplines without committing to the 26-week Masterclass
What You’ll Achieve
Your Qualification
On successful completion, you’ll receive the VTCT & Alan d Level 2 Certificate in Cutting Hair and Level 3 Certificate in Barbering. Both are nationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated vocational qualifications. The Level 2 certificate records your competence in ladies’ cutting, consultation and salon health and safety. The Level 3 certificate covers the barbering side of your training.
Skills You’ll Develop
You’ll learn to cut and finish ladies’ hair using the 9 foundation haircuts, consult with clients and work safely in a salon. In the barbering class, you’ll use scissors, scissor-over-comb and clippers, then develop your beard and moustache trimming on mannequins and live models.
Where to Go Next
If you want the full qualification in ladies’ hairdressing, you can move on to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing. The barbering route continues with the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Barbering – inc. Wet Shaving. For shorter skills training, the academy also offers #OntheFloor (Hairdressing), #OntheFloor (Barbering) and Wet Shaving.
Our Hairdressing Academy
Located in Hayne St, EC1, Barbican, adjacent to Farringdon Elizabeth Line, Barbican exit, our London Hairdressing School is in the heart of the City of London making it easily accessible by public transport. You will learn in a realistic working environment using salon-professional only products.
Course Investment
Tuition Fee
Full Price: £9,000 inc. VAT + VTCT Registration Fee & equipment
Early Payment Price: £8,100 inc. VAT
(Save 10% when you pay in full at least one month before your start date)
Payment Plan
remaining balance in 10 weekly instalments of £800, starting from your course start date.
- Deposit to secure your place: £1,000
- Week 1 (start date): £800
- Week 2 – 10: £800 per week
When taking out a payment plan with Alan d for your course, there are no interest charges, no credit checks and no third-party finance. Just a straightforward weekly payment plan.
What’s Included
Your course fee covers all tuition, ongoing support throughout your training, and your VTCT and Alan d certificates upon completion. You’ll work on mannequin heads and live models throughout the programme. You’ll also use salon-only professional products, giving you hands-on experience with the brands and tools you’ll encounter in professional environments.
Additional Costs
VTCT Registration Fee and equipment are charged separately. Professional equipment kits are available (you keep these permanently). Dress code is smart casual, no uniform required.
Learn from Industry Professionals
Academy Expertise
We have over 60 years of combined industry experience, training hairdressers and barbers. The academy is a VTCT-approved centre, which means training and assessment meet nationally recognised vocational standards. Class sizes are kept small, typically between 1 and 8 students per instructor, so you’ll get individual attention and personalised feedback throughout your course.
A maximum of 10 new learners start with us each month, and you’ll train alongside students on our various programmes in a working salon environment. This course is taught across the hairdressing and barbering classes by our educators.
FAQs
You can enrol without any previous hairdressing or barbering qualifications or experience. The course starts at beginner level. You’ll need spoken English to understand your trainer’s instructions and speak with clients during practical work.
Yes. The course can be taken part-time. You must attend classes for at least 3 consecutive days per week, letting you fit training around other commitments while keeping the pace you need to progress.
This 15-week course awards a Level 2 certificate in ladies’ cutting and a Level 3 certificate in barbering. The 26-week Masterclass covers the full Level 2 NVQ diplomas in both disciplines, with additional hairdressing work such as colouring and perming. Both courses accept beginners.
Yes. These are nationally recognised, Ofqual-regulated VTCT qualifications and are also recognised internationally. They show that your work has been assessed against vocational standards in ladies’ cutting and barbering.
The Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing is the next qualification route if you want to add colouring, perming and a broader range of styling work. If you want shorter training built around particular gaps in your technique, #OntheFloor (Hairdressing) is the skills-based option.
You can continue to the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Barbering – inc. Wet Shaving for the full barbering qualification. #OntheFloor (Barbering) offers shorter training shaped around the skills you want to improve, while Wet Shaving concentrates on that service.
The course prepares you for ladies’ cutting and barbering, with practical assessments on live models in both. The certificates support applications to unisex salons, and the same mix of skills is useful for freelance work.
If you have your own kit in good condition, you’re welcome to bring it. If not, professional equipment kits are available to purchase, and they’re yours to keep after the course.
We require a minimum attendance rate of 80% per week. If you know you’ll be late or absent, you need to notify the academy manager by email or phone no later than 9 am on the day you’re scheduled to arrive. Repeated unexplained absences can affect your progress and, in serious cases, could result in dismissal from the course without a refund. So we can support you properly, if you have a health issue, are on ongoing medication, or have any personal circumstances that might affect your attendance, please speak to the academy manager at the start of your course.
Alternatively email us on the form below:
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