Learning how to build relationships with clients is an important part of a hairdressing apprenticeship. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)
TAFE Queensland training salons offering cut-price haircuts have recorded customer increases across the state as cost-of-living pressures rise.
Customers say there is an element of trust in letting an apprentice cut hair, but the savings allow more money for other luxuries.
Educators say the increase in customers gives apprentices more experience in time management, accuracy, and client interaction.
Style-savvy salon-goer Denise Kelly admits she had concerns about letting an apprentice hairdresser loose on her luscious locks.
"I thought 'Will they over-process my hair? Will they even blow-dry it correctly?'," Ms Kelly said.
But the compliments she received after her first $20 wash and blow-dry at a Gold Coast training salon were all the convincing she needed.
"My husband liked it, so that's even better," she laughed.
Ms Kelly said she could pay more than $70 for a similar service in a fully fledged, professional salon.
Apprentice-run training salons at TAFE campuses across Queensland saw an influx of new customers in the past financial year, with bookings increasing more than 70 per cent in some areas.
Barbering services are also popular at TAFE Queensland's training salons. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)
"We think that's obviously related to the cost-of-living pressures," said Deb Blow, executive director of education and training at TAFE Queensland.
In the barber-training area of the Gold Coast salon, Simon Zanchetta went from being a reluctant customer to a repeat one.
"Whatever happens, you're stuck with it for a little bit of time, so you do enlist a little bit of trust in coming into the salon," Mr Zanchetta said.
Simon Zanchetta says trusting an apprentice to cut his hair took some courage, but he enjoys the cost savings. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)