Trades & Vocational

Diploma in Cosmetology

The Diploma in Cosmetology is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that provides comprehensive training in beauty, hairdressing, skincare, nail care, and wellness techniques. It combines hairdressing and beauty therapy into a single programme, making it the most comprehensive beauty industry qualification.

The curriculum covers plaiting and braiding, barbering, manicure and pedicure, make-up services, hair additions, hair styling, nail care, dreadlocking, hair removal, hair cutting, facial treatment, hair chemical reformation, hair colouring, body massage, body art, hair piece production, cosmetology research, and salon management.

The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Cosmetology Level 6 qualification (code 10126COSMA, ISCED 1012 554A) and examined by KNEC or NITA in some institutions.

Training combines classroom theory with extensive practical sessions in fully equipped beauty and hairdressing training facilities. Trainees work with professional salon and spa equipment, skincare products, make-up kits, and nail care tools.

Graduates find employment in beauty salons, spas, wellness centres, media and film industry, fashion events, hotels, and resorts. Many graduates establish their own salons, spas, or beauty consultancy businesses.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in beauty, hairdressing, and wellness, as well as Level 5 certificate holders seeking to upgrade. It provides a progression pathway to advanced certifications in cosmetology, beauty therapy, or salon and spa management.

Duration: 2-3 years
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: 3 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Plaiting and Braiding
Barbering Services
Manicure and Pedicure
Make-up Services
Hair Additions and Styling
Nail Care Services
Hair Cutting and Chemical Reformation
Facial Treatment and Skin Care
Hair Colouring and Lightening
Body Massage and Wellness

Modules

12 in the programme

Manicure, Pedicure and Nail Care
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Nail care, manicure, pedicure, nail art, and nail enhancement techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Plaiting, Braiding and Barbering
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Braiding techniques, corn-rows, box braids, barbering operations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills and Digital Literacy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Business communication, customer care, and ICT applications in salon management for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Hair Additions and Styling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Weaving, extensions, bonding, crocheting, and thermal styling techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Make-up Services
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Day, evening, bridal, and editorial make-up application techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Dreadlocking and Hair Removal
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Dreadlock creation and maintenance, waxing, threading, and hair removal services
Hair Cutting and Chemical Reformation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced hair cutting, relaxing, perming, and chemical straightening for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Facial Treatment and Skin Care
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Skin analysis, facial treatments, exfoliation, masks, and skincare consultations
Hair Colouring and Lightening
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Colour theory, mixing, application, highlighting, and colour correction for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Three-month industry placement in an established salon, spa, or beauty centre for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Hair Piece Production and Body Art
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Wig making, hair piece construction, and body art services including henna for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Body Massage and Wellness
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Swedish massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, and wellness therapy techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Beauty Therapy and Skincare
Focuses on facial treatments, skin care, body massage, and wellness therapy, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Hairdressing and Hair Colouring
Focuses on advanced hairdressing, colouring, chemical reformation, and hair additions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Make-up Artistry
Focuses on professional make-up for bridal, media, film, and fashion, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Salon and Spa Management
Focuses on business management, entrepreneurship, and operations in the beauty industry, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

A typical day begins at 8:00 AM with a theory session on skin science or hair chemistry, followed by a three-hour practical session in the training salon and beauty studio working with real clients. Afternoons alternate between specialised workshops such as make-up application, nail art, body massage, or facial treatments. Industrial attachment places students in established salons, spas, or wellness centres for professional experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Most comprehensive beauty qualification combining hairdressing, beauty therapy, and wellness
Kenya's beauty market valued at over KSH 100 billion with 6% annual growth
Strong self-employment potential with multiple revenue streams from diverse services

Against it

Requires investment in professional products, tools, and equipment
Physically demanding work requiring long periods of standing

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 Kabete National Polytechnic67k at Kabete National Polytechnic

Private23k to 50k

23k at Uzuri Institute50k at PCI College

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 67K/yr public. PCI 49K, Uzuri 23K/yr private (pci.ac.ke, uzuriinstitute.ac.ke).

HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available. Some beauty product companies offer sponsorship programmes for students committed to using their product lines.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan and Bursary
County Government Bursaries
NG-CDF Constituency Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency-based bursary for needy students
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
All TVET students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed programmes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in Cosmetology Level 5, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNQA.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Internal Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Practical assessments on live models, technique demonstrations, and theory tests
External Assessment (TVET CDACC)
External60% of the mark
Competency-based external assessment conducted by TVET CDACC
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during three-month salon or spa placement

Accreditation

Accredited by TVET CDACC (Cosmetology Level 6, code 10126COSMA, ISCED 1012 554A) and regulated by TVETA. NITA also offers grade tests in beauty therapy and hairdressing. Some institutions offer KNEC-examined variants.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Cosmetology Level 6, code 10126COSMA, ISCED 1012 554A
Kenya National Examinations Council
Examination
Some institutions offer KNEC-examined variant
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
Institutional regulationRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Cosmetologist
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 55,000
Provides comprehensive beauty services including hairdressing, skincare, and nail care
Beauty Therapist
High demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 50,000
Specialises in skincare, facial treatments, body massage, and beauty therapy services
Salon and Spa Manager
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000
Manages salon or spa operations, staff, services, and customer experience
Make-up Artist
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides make-up services for weddings, events, media, film, and fashion
Beauty Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 65,000
Advises clients on beauty products, skincare routines, and beauty treatments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand in Kenya's growing beauty and wellness industry valued at over KSH 100 billion. Entry-level cosmetologists earn KSH 20,000 to KSH 50,000 per month, with experienced salon managers and beauty consultants earning KSH 60,000 to KSH 150,000+ per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Professional Salon and Spa Equipment
EquipmentPrimary
Styling chairs, dryers, massage tables, facial steamers, and spa equipment
Make-up Kits and Products
ProductsPrimary
Professional make-up palettes, brushes, foundations, and cosmetic products
Nail Care Tools
Tools
Manicure and pedicure sets, nail files, UV lamps, and nail art supplies
Skincare and Beauty Products
ProductsPrimary
Cleansers, toners, masks, scrubs, massage oils, and treatment products

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Cosmetology is just about hairdressing
The diploma combines hairdressing, beauty therapy, skincare, nail care, make-up, body massage, and salon management, making it the most comprehensive beauty industry qualification with broader career options than hairdressing alone.
Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.
Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.