Trades & Vocational

Artisan in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy

The Artisan in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that introduces students to fundamental hairdressing and beauty therapy skills for the salon industry. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn barbering services, hair addition services, hair colouring, hair setting and styling, and basic salon operations.

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on providing barbering services, hair addition services, hair colouring services, hair setting and styling, and industrial attachment in a salon environment.

Kenya's beauty and personal care industry has experienced substantial growth with increasing demand for hairdressing services across urban and rural areas. The expansion of salons, barbershops, and beauty parlours creates entry-level opportunities for trained personnel. Self-employment is particularly strong in this sector, with many graduates establishing their own salon businesses.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in salon environments. Students practice washing, plaiting, braiding, barbering, hair addition, colouring, and styling under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in a salon or barbershop where students apply their skills in real client-facing environments.

Graduates work as salon assistants, hairdressers, barbers, hair colourists, and salon helpers in hairdressing salons, barbershops, beauty parlours, and hotels. Many graduates operate freelance hairdressing services or establish small salon businesses. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Hairdressing Level 5 and Level 6.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in practical hairdressing and beauty skills and seeking direct entry into the beauty industry.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 49,500
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 1 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Artisan Certificate

What you study

8 subjects

Basic Hair Washing
Simple Styling
Salon Cleaning
Tool Handling
Basic Client Assistance
Workplace Safety
Product Handling
Salon Assistance

Modules

8 in the programme

Workplace Safety
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Occupational safety and health practices in salon environments including safe tool use, chemical handling, hygiene standards, and personal protective equipment.
Basic Hair Washing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Washing and shampooing hair including scalp assessment, water temperature control, product application, and proper rinsing techniques for salon clients.
Simple Styling
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Basic hair styling assistance including combing, blow drying assistance, plaiting support, and simple styling techniques under stylist supervision.
Salon Cleaning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Cleaning and maintaining salon areas including workstation sanitising, tool sterilising, floor cleaning, and general salon hygiene maintenance.
Tool Handling
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Handling basic salon tools including combs, brushes, scissors, clippers, and styling equipment with proper maintenance and hygiene practices.
Basic Client Assistance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Assisting clients in the salon including greeting, gowning, consultation support, and basic client comfort and service during salon visits.
Product Handling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Handling basic hair and beauty products including shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and cosmetics with proper storage and application awareness.
Salon Assistance
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
General assistance in salon operations including towel management, station preparation, client flow support, and routine salon duties under stylist supervision.

Specialisations

Hair Washing
Focus on hair washing and shampooing including scalp assessment, product selection, conditioning treatments, and proper cleansing techniques for salon clients.
Salon Maintenance
Focus on salon cleanliness and maintenance including workstation sanitising, tool sterilising, equipment cleaning, and general salon hygiene management.
Stylist Support
Focus on assisting hair stylists including client preparation, tool handling, product application, and routine support during hairdressing and styling services.
General Salon Support
General salon assistance including towel management, station preparation, client greeting, product handling, and routine salon duties under stylist supervision.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in salons washing hair, sweeping, cleaning, handling tools, assisting stylists, and performing basic salon assistance tasks.

The trade offs

In its favour

Quick entry to beauty industry with basic skills.
Most affordable entry point to hairdressing.
Foundation for progression to craft and certificate.

Against it

Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Standing for long periods.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 9 trades & vocational courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Emining Technical Training Institute67k at Public TVET institutions (standardized fee)

Private36k to 50k

36k at Kenyaplex Institute of Technology50k at CITC Thika

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

TVET 67,189/yr public. KPIT 36,000, CITC 49,500/yr (kpit.ac.ke).

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available.

Funding options

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties.
HELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate
Alternative entry: KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Theory Assessment
Test15% of the mark
Basic written assessment of supporting salon knowledge.
Practical Projects
Project25% of the mark
Completion of basic salon assistance tasks.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum60% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical salon skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Salon Cleaner
Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 32,000
Maintain cleanliness in salon areas.
Stylist Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 42,000
Assist stylists with basic tasks.
Hair Washer
High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 35,000
Wash and shampoo hair for clients.
Salon Helper
High demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 40,000
Assist with basic salon operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as salon helpers and hair washers in salons and beauty parlours across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.