Hairdressing students expand their skills with sessions in afro and textured hair
Hairdressing students at Coleg Sir Gâr have widened their professional training with an eight-week specialist course in afro and textured hair.
Delivered by Edwina Amadife, who runs Amadife Salon in Cardiff, the weekly sessions were introduced by Georgia Theodoulou, a college A-level lecturer and anti-racism lead practitioner.
Georgia decided that learning about afro, curly and textured hair would be a beneficial and inclusive addition for hairdressing students, as it isn’t currently in the exam board curriculum.
As well as running her award-winning salon, Edwina Amadife also delivers workshops to hairdressing students.
Through these piloted sessions, students were able to learn about the history of afro hair, how to professionally determine the different types of afro and curly hair and identify treatments and protective styles for brittle and fragile hair. They also learned how to create corn rows, box plaits and bounty knots.
In their final session, students were given the opportunity of working with real clients with various afro hair types under Edwina’s guidance.
Hairdressing student Cerys Caddick said: “I’m really enjoying all the sessions and it’s given me more confidence.
“As well as the specialist afro hair training, it’s really helpful as not everyone who comes in a salon has straight hair. “
Emma Williams, hairdressing lecturer added: “This has been a fantastic addition to our college provision, expanding our students professional expertise and building their confidence to include specialist styling for afro and multi-textured hair.
“The students have really taken it on board and Edwina has done a brilliant job in teaching them.”
Georgia Theodoulou, Coleg Sir Gâr lecturer and anti-racism lead practitioner said: “It’s such an exciting project to be able to offer our learners more skills and experience to diversify not only our curriculum, but their future prospects.
“Edwina is a brilliant practitioner, she’s already brought such knowledge, passion and experience and the staff and learners have found it incredibly insightful and beneficial.”
