Hair and Beauty

Full Time courses

The Salon

You will train in our industry-standard salon, 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 is open for appointments throughout the academic year.

Find out more about our Salon

Practical Experiences

As well as working in our on-site salon, our students also get lots of practical experiences outside the course, such as working on looks for those in our community.

We work with local and national industry experts who give students the skills they need to be successful in their future careers.

Examples include Hair Plus Academy, StudX Ear Piercing and Ginger Hair and Beauty, who have been teaching our students the art of Balayage.

Expert Barbers also come in to teach workshops directly to students with a focus on textured hair.

Skills Competitions

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

Hairdressing student Yullia (right) won the Gold Medal at the 2024 KFE contest for her Ladies Styling work.

At KFE4Skills 2024, all of our participating students won a medal for their achievements.

Read about student's KFE success

Adult Courses

At EKC Sheppey College, we offer the Level 2 courses one day a week for our adult learners.

These will help you develop specialist skills in both Hairdressing and Barbering.

We work around your schedule such as your childcare needs so that learning here is as easy and as convenient for you as possible.

We offer specialist support for our adult learners, such as online tutorials when needed.

Explore our adult courses

Trips and Social Action

Salon International

Fun, educational trips such as visits to expos give students the chance to see upcoming trends and products as well as a chance to hear from global experts.

Age UK

Students went along to Age UK to give some of the clients well-deserved Hair and Beauty makeovers.

Volunteering in College

Hair and Beauty students are on hand during Students’ Union events to makeover our College community.

At the latest Student Awards, their glitter hair designs were a standout highlight.

Criterion Fashion Show

The Hair department organised a hair and fashion show to be held at the Criterion, with ticket sale proceeds going directly to the venue.

How you apply for a course at EKC Sheppey College

Step 1 – Find a subject you’re interested in

Explore our Hair and Beauty courses, and see the opportunities that are available to 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 Sheppey College, where you can meet our team, explore our facilities and enrol onto the course that is right for you.

Meet our Lecturer

Jess Hughes

Hairdressing lecturer Jess used to be a student here and is now passing on the skills and knowledge that you need to become a professional.

She loved taking part in competitions such as KFE4Skills and WorldSkills during her studies, and is a key advocate in ensuring you can also gain these key experiences.

Learn more about Jess

Career prospects

Example:

Salon Therapists

£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.

Data powered by LMI for All

It’s lovely to be able to meet lots of people here, making it a very fun experience studying in the Salon.

I have been proven wrong in what I thought I could achieve as the College has given me so many skills for my future.

You can learn so much through new experiences here and I chose EKC Sheppey College as it was the first College where I felt supported.

Giulia

Hairdressing Level 2 Student

I would recommend studying Hairdressing here to anyone who is sitting at home and wondering if they can do it.

I did the Level 1 a few years back which then led onto Level 2. Barbering was great to do alongside as I learnt so much.

Jess as a teacher makes you feel so comfortable. It’s been great to build my confidence and now have a skill that I can walk out of here with.

Gemma

Hairdressing Level 3 Student

Hairdressing is always something that I wanted to do but I never had the confidence to do it while I was younger.

It’s now great that I can do it while I’m an adult. It’s building me life skills and allowing me to work around my children.

I’m finally getting the skills to do what I want to do.

Hannah