Cultural,
social and
technological
influences on
the hair industry
UV30559
M/601/5378
Learner name:
VRQ
Learner number:
VTCT is the specialist awarding body for the Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy,
Complementary Therapy and Sport and Active Leisure sectors, with over 45
years of experience.
VTCT is an awarding body regulated by national organisations including
Ofqual, SQA, DCELLS and CCEA.
VTCT is a registered charity investing in education and skills but also giving to
good causes in the area of facial disfigurement.
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criteria and range statements have been achieved under specified conditions and that the evidence
gathered is authentic.
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UV30559
Cultural, social and
technological influences on the
hair industry
The aim of this unit is to develop your knowledge and
understanding on how historical, cultural, social and
technological advances have impacted on the hair industry.
You will delve into how products, tools and equipment have
evolved over time, and the impact that the media has had
on the hair industry.
This unit is suitable for hairdressers and barbers.
UV30559_v6
Level
3
Credit value
5
GLH
30
Observation(s)
0
External paper(s)
0
Cultural, social and
technological influences on the
hair industry
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit you will:
1.
Understand the cultural and social effects
on hairdressing
2.
Understand the technological advances in
the hair industry
Evidence requirements
1.
Knowledge outcomes
There must be evidence that you possess
all the knowledge and understanding
listed in the ‘Knowledge’ section of this
unit. This evidence may include projects,
assignments, case studies, reflective
accounts, oral/written questioning and/or
other forms of evidence.
2.
Tutor/Assessor guidance
You will be guided by your tutor/assessor
on how to achieve learning outcomes in this
unit. All outcomes must be achieved.
3.
External paper
There is no external paper requirement for
this unit.
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3
Developing knowledge
Achieving knowledge outcomes
You will be guided by your tutor and assessor
on the evidence that needs to be produced.
Your knowledge and understanding will be
assessed using the assessment methods listed
below:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
4
Observed work
Witness statements
Audio-visual media
Evidence of prior learning or attainment
Written questions
Oral questions
Assignments
Case studies
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Where possible your assessor will integrate
knowledge outcomes into practical observations
through oral questioning.
Knowledge
Outcome 1
Understand the cultural and social effects on hairdressing
You can:
Portfolio reference /
Assessor initials*
a. Describe the cultural effects that have influenced the hair industry
through the ages
b. Describe the social effects that have influenced the hair industry
through the ages
c. Identify key developments in history that have influenced the hair
industry
d. Identify the iconic landmarks in the development of the hair
industry
e. Review influences and trends which affect current hair fashions
f.
Describe how the development of travel and trade have influenced
the hair industry
*Assessor initials to be inserted if orally questioned.
Requirements highlighted in white are assessed in the external paper.
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5
Outcome 2
Understand the technological advances in the hair industry
You can:
a. Identify major advances in tools and equipment within the hair
industry
b. Identify the advances in hair products, product design and
applications within the hair industry
c. Explain how ingredients and the manufacturing of hairdressing
products have evolved
d. Analyse the effect the media has had on the hair industry
*Assessor initials to be inserted if orally questioned.
Requirements highlighted in white are assessed in the external paper.
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Portfolio reference /
Assessor initials*
Unit content
This section provides guidance on the recommended knowledge and skills required to enable you
to achieve each of the learning outcomes in this unit. Your tutor/assessor will ensure you have the
opportunity to cover all of the unit content.
Outcome 1: Understand the cultural and social effects on hairdressing
Influences on the hair industry through
the ages:
Cultural effects – designed for living,
learned/shared values, customs,
beliefs, manners, religion, arts, folklore,
sector tastes, intellectual development,
knowledge.
Social effects – society, celebrities,
group memberships, values, attitudes,
identity, trend setters, education, history,
economics, demographics, class.
Historical influences:
Ancient Egypt – noble women/men
clipped their hair, wore heavy curly black
wigs (women’s wigs long and braided,
adorned with gold ornaments or ivory
hairpins), men’s faces were clean shaved,
stiff false beards were sometimes worn.
Classical Greece – women’s hair was
long, worn in a chignon, dyed red with
henna, sprinkled with gold powder, adorned
with fresh flowers or jewelled tiaras, men’s
hair was either short or shaved.
Ancient Rome – followed Greek styles,
used curling irons, applied gold powder,
women dyed their hair blonde, wore wigs
made from slaves’ hair, became more
ornate, hair curled tight and shaped around
wire frame and piled high on head, slaves
or public barber did hair.
China – unmarried Chinese girls wore their
hair long and braided, women wore their
hair in a knot at the nape, Manchu men
shaved front of their head and wore the
back long and braided.
Japan – men wore hair shaved at the front
and back pulled into stiff ponytail, women
wore hair long and loose, by 17th century
hair became styled – swept up adorned
with pins and combs, Geisha women’s hair
elaborate, high-lacquered and enhanced
with hairpieces.
Africa – many and varied tribal styles,
signified status, Masai wore front of hair in
tiny braids and back of hair waist length,
dyed with red earth and greased, stiffened
with animal dung, non-warriors and women
had shaved heads, Mangbetu women
used thin plaits dressed into a cone shape
adorned with bone needles, Miango wore
long ponytails with a headscarf adorned
with leaves.
America – east coast Indians shaved their
heads with a ridge of hair over the crown,
Plains Indians men and women wore long
braids adorned with feathers, Incas wore
black headbands over short bobbed hair,
Aztec women plaited their hair with strips
of coloured cloth wound around the head,
Mayan nobility had shaved heads covered
with high ornate headdresses.
The Western World – Renaissance period
– ladies plucked front hairline away to give
appearance of higher forehead to show off
their elaborate head-dresses, in Italy they
covered hair with low caps and jewelled
turbans, used bleach (saffron or onion
skins) and spent long hours in the sun in
an attempt to bleach hair.
16th century – red curly long wigs (Queen
Elizabeth I).
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Outcome 1: Understand the cultural and social effects on hairdressing (continued)
18th century – big hair, highly decorated
curly white powdered wigs with long
ringlets tied with ribbon for men, decorated
with feather bows and garlands for women.
Victorians – sleek shiny and healthy
styles, oiled and curled into long ringlets,
fringes were short, back clipped with ivory
comb/black bow or plaited and wound into
heavy coils pinned in nape, men’s hair
pomaded with macassar oil with some form
of moustache, beard and sideburns.
Twentieth century:
1920s – Marcel wave, finger waves, pin
curls, flapper bobs.
1940s/’50s – Hollywood glamour years,
shampoo and set.
1960s – teddy boys, quiffs, ‘DA’, beehive,
mods and rockers, pop art (Mary Quant/
Vidal Sassoon).
1970s – blow drying, Afro, big hair, page
boy, wedge, Ziggy Stardust.
1980s – punk, Mohawks, liberty spikes,
new romantics, Goth’s, disco, curly perms,
asymmetric.
1990s – wash and wear, colouring hair,
hair straighteners, blow drying geometric/
asymmetric, celebrity inspired hairstyles
(films, music industry, footballers, models,
television).
2000s – intricately shaped beards/
facial hair, straight hair, patterns in hair,
advanced colouring techniques, fantasy
styles.
Influences and trends on current
hairstyles: Personal ability to do own hair,
availability of salon standard equipment,
affordable electrical appliances, availability
of salon styling/finishing products, increase
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in disposable income, more varied lifestyle,
ease of travel, cultural influence.
Inspiration sources – celebrity, media,
magazines, papers, adverts, fashion
industry, trendsetting, seasons, fashion
taste.
Introduction of adding hair – wigs (male
and female), hair extensions, postiche,
wiglet, use of ornamentation.
The development of travel and trade:
Migration of cultures, holidays abroad,
knowledge passing from continent to
continent, development of electrical
appliances, widely available products/
ingredients, import/export businesses.
Photo courtesy of Wahl (UK) Ltd.
Outcome 2: Understand the technological advances in the hair industry
Major advances in tools and equipment:
Combs – made by man (bone, deer
antler), wooden, plastic, width of teeth, size
and shape.
Brushes – bristle, hog hair, wooden,
rubber, nylon, wire, plastic, size, length of
bristle, amount of bristle.
Scissors – precision, thinning, different
sizes, weight, thickness, construction,
metals, length of blade, self sharpening.
Razors – copper/bronze, later made
from iron, gold razors in Ancient Egypt,
changeable blades, disposable, number of
blades.
Hair shapers – disposable, ancient
civilisation calamistrum (bronze stick to
reshape hair).
Rollers – plastic, Velcro, heated, time
delay heating.
Perming rods – Egyptians wound hair
around sticks coated in clay that had been
baked under the sun, wigmakers wrapped
hair around sticks placed in boiling water
and allowed to dry, hot perm machines
(activate the lotion), plastic rods, various
sizes, lengths, depths, shapes (cone),
tension rods.
Colouring implements – bow and brush,
hi-lighting cap, foil, wraps, spatula, colour
pots.
Electrical – hood hairdryers, hand held
dryers, steamers, climazone, pressing
combs, curling irons, tongs, crimpers,
straighteners, electrical clippers and
grades, cordless, battery operated.
The evolution of products, product
design and application: Scientific
research, travel (knowledge/ingredients),
better understanding of how the hair
structure is affected.
Product development:
Colour – vegetable extracts, Azo dyes,
Nitro dyes, Para dyes, activators.
Perming – alkaline, acid, exothermic.
Relaxing – Sodium hydroxide (lye),
guanidine hydroxide (non-lye).
Straightening – Brazilian blow dry, keratin
compound.
Shampoo – soap, liquid soap, condition
specific, pH balanced.
Conditioning – surface, penetrating, scalp
treatment, restructurant, leave-in.
Styling – firm, medium and gentle hold,
products (lotion, mousse, gel,) hair type
specific, protection properties, moisture
repellent.
Finishing – products (sprays, oil, wax,
putty, gel), extreme hold, hair type specific,
protection properties, moisture repellent.
Product design – specifically designed
for hair type/condition, literature,
manufacturers’ instructions, salon products
in commercial bottle sizes, readily
available, affordable, eye-catching for
media purposes.
Application – added heat, shorter
development times, multiple services at
one time, ability to wash hair immediately
after service (perming, colouring).
The effect media has on the hair
industry: Raises the profile, provides
images for styles, knowledge on products
and techniques, business for salons,
advertises retail products, training
opportunities, self application.
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Outcome 2: Understand the technological advances in the hair industry (continued)
Types of media – newspapers,
magazines, articles, adverts, commercials,
documentary programmes, reality TV (The
Salon), films, live shows.
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