Learning how to build relationships with clients is an important part of a hairdressing apprenticeship. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)<\/p>\n
TAFE Queensland training salons offering cut-price haircuts have recorded customer increases across the state as cost-of-living pressures rise.<\/p>\n
Customers say there is an element of trust in letting an apprentice cut hair, but the savings allow more money for other luxuries.<\/p>\n
Educators say the increase in customers gives apprentices more experience in time management, accuracy, and client interaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Style-savvy salon-goer Denise Kelly admits she had concerns about letting an apprentice hairdresser loose on her luscious locks.<\/p>\n
"I thought 'Will they over-process my hair? Will they even blow-dry it correctly?'," Ms Kelly said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
"My husband liked it, so that's even better," she laughed.<\/p>\n
Ms Kelly said she could pay more than $70 for a similar service in a fully fledged, professional salon.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Barbering services are also popular at TAFE Queensland's training salons. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)<\/p>\n
"We think that's obviously related to the cost-of-living pressures," said Deb Blow, executive director of education and training at TAFE Queensland.<\/p>\n
In the barber-training area of the Gold Coast salon, Simon Zanchetta went from being a reluctant customer to a repeat one.<\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
Simon Zanchetta says trusting an apprentice to cut his hair took some courage, but he enjoys the cost savings. (ABC Gold Coast: Mark Rigby)<\/p>\n