Lesson 1Personal protective equipment and ergonomic tool handling to reduce client irritation and barber strainInvestigate personal protective equipment and ergonomic handling to safeguard client and barber. Learn glove and mask application, cape placement, posture, tool grip, and workstation layout to minimise irritation, strain, and long-term injury.
Gloves, masks, and eye protectionCapes and neck strips for hygieneNeutral posture and stool heightErgonomic clipper and scissor gripsCord management and tool placementMicro-breaks and stretch routinesLesson 2Guards, blades, and tapering: guard selection, blending methods, and clipper-over-comb basicsInvestigate how guards, blades, and tapering shape beards. Learn guard selection by density, blending bulky areas, clipper-over-comb control, and avoiding harsh lines while ensuring symmetry and natural transitions.
Guard numbering and length mappingChoosing guards for beard densityBlending bulky cheek and neck areasClipper-over-comb hand positioningCreating soft tapers and fadesCorrecting uneven or harsh linesLesson 3Pre-shave and shaving products: formulations, active ingredients, and allergy considerationsExamine pre-shave oils, creams, and gels, emphasising formulations and active ingredients. Learn their impact on glide, softening, and sensitivity, plus screening for allergies, fragrance issues, and acne-prone or reactive skin.
Roles of pre-shave productsKey emollients and humectantsSoothing and anti-inflammatory agentsFragrances, dyes, and sensitizersChoosing for acne-prone clientsAllergy screening and patch testingLesson 4Scissors and thinning shears: types, points of use, and safe cutting techniquesUnderstand scissors and thinning shears for beard shaping. Learn blade types, tension adjustment, and safe hand positions. Practise point cutting, slide cutting, and bulk removal while protecting skin and natural lines.
Scissor types and blade profilesSetting tension and screw checksFinger placement and grip safetyPoint cutting for soft edgesUsing thinning shears for bulkAvoiding over-thinning patchesLesson 5Shaving gels, creams, and lathering techniques for sensitive skinLearn selecting gels, creams, and soaps for sensitive skin and dense beards. Practise lathering with brush or hands, water temperature control, and glide testing to reduce tugging, razor burn, and post-shave redness.
Gel vs cream vs soap performanceReading labels for sensitive skinBrush vs brushless lather methodsWater ratio and lather consistencyPatch testing for irritation riskImproving glide on dense beardsLesson 6Combs, brushes, and styling tools: selection for density and sensitive skinDiscover selecting combs, brushes, and heat tools for varying beard densities and skin sensitivities. Learn tooth spacing, bristle stiffness, and using blow-dryers or heated brushes without breakage or irritation.
Tooth spacing for curl and densityBristle types for sensitive skinDetangling without breakageUsing blow-dryers on beardsHeated brushes and safety limitsCleaning and storing styling toolsLesson 7Straight razor and safety razor: blade selection, stropping/honing basics, and disposables handlingMaster straight and safety razor use for beard work. Learn blade types, sharpness levels, stropping and basic honing, safe loading and disposal, and maintaining angles to reduce nicks while shaping precisely.
Razor types and ideal beard usesBlade coatings and sharpness levelsStropping basics for straight razorsIntro to honing and edge inspectionSafe blade loading and disposalAngle, pressure, and stroke controlLesson 8Clippers and trimmers: models, blade sizes, maintenance, lubrication, and heat managementLearn clipper and trimmer types, motor strengths, and blade sizes, plus cleaning, aligning, and lubricating them. Understand heat management, cord versus cordless use, and avoiding irritation and cuts on beards.
Rotary vs magnetic motor clippersBeard-focused trimmer featuresBlade sizes and cutting lengthsZero-gapping and blade alignmentCleaning, oiling, and rust preventionManaging heat and avoiding irritationLesson 9Sanitising tools between uses: recommended agents for metal, plastic, and fabric toolsUnderstand sanitising metal, plastic, and fabric tools between clients. Learn cleaning versus disinfection differences, contact times, storage, and preventing cross-contamination while protecting tools from damage and corrosion.
Cleaning vs disinfection vs sterilisationApproved agents for metal toolsSafe disinfectants for plasticsHandling capes, towels, and fabricsContact time and drying proceduresLabelling, storage, and log keepingLesson 10Aftershaves, balms, oils, and moisturisers: ingredient functions and choosing non-irritating formulationsLearn how aftershaves, balms, oils, and moisturisers soothe skin and condition beards. Compare alcohol-based and alcohol-free options, ingredient roles, and select non-irritating formulas for sensitive, dry, or oily skin types.
Alcohol vs alcohol-free aftershavesBalms for dry or reactive skinBeard oils: carriers and scentsLightweight moisturisers for beardsAvoiding pore-clogging ingredientsBuilding simple post-shave routines
