Rachel walked into Whitireia and WelTec with over 20 years’ experience in the barbering industry. Now, she brings her wealth of knowledge to ākonga (students) through tutoring the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Barbering programme. We talked to Rachel about what to expect in the programme, tips for aspiring barbers and her hair and barbering journey.
What are the main components of the barbering programme?
It’s a combination of a few components. The foundations we focus on first are learning the bone structures of peoples heads and face shapes. We learn this so barbers can identify what hairstyles are suitable for all types of head shapes. We then focus on short back and sides haircuts, how to master cutting straight lines and delivering full scissor cuts.
An area that also can’t be overlooked is building soft skills, and this is constantly emphasised in the programme. Being able to greet, talk and interact with clients are key skills in barbering.
What do you enjoy most about tutoring the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Barbering?
Seeing students grow throughout the year and increase their confidence in the barbershop. I love watching students improve over time, to the point where they can spark conversations with clients, clean their style bay till it’s immaculate, and rebook clients for future services.
Can you talk about the pathway from studying barbering to entering industry?
Students in the barbering programme have to complete 90 hours of work experience during the programme. This is the student’s first taste of what the barbering industry is like. Work experience enables students to be mentored by professional barbers in industry, improve cutting techniques and build confidence. This year, over half of the class gained full-time employment with barbershops after completing work experience!
It’s been awesome to see our local barbers opening their doors for work experience opportunities.
Level up your look at our on-campus salons!
Run by students, fully supervised by professionals, you can get pampered for a fraction of the cost at our on-campus hair, barbering, and beauty salons. Hairdressing services include colour and styling, barbering includes cuts and shaves, and beauty therapy services include facial and eye treatments, manicures, pedicures, and waxing.
What’s one piece of advice you have for any aspiring barbers looking to study?
Barbering is more than just clipper cuts and hard skills. Being able to communicate with clients is just as important and is a massive area we focus on in class. I encourage aspiring barbers not to be afraid to ask questions, to come in with an open mind and be willing to learn new skills.
What’s your favourite part of the barbering process?
I really enjoy seeing students bring all their learnings together and putting it on full display in the barbershop. I get such a buzz when a student delivers a quality barbering service from start to finish!
Can you talk about your journey into barbering? What drew you to the craft?
After seven years as a hairdresser, I bought a barbershop in Porirua and transitioned into barbering. During this time, I hired a barbering professional to train me. After eighteen successful years, I decided to sell my shop and pursue teaching. I had always enjoyed passing knowledge onto keen learners, so I became a tutor at a training salon in 2020. At the start of 2024, I began tutoring at Whitireia and WelTec and I have loved it since.
I had always wanted to be a barber, but the trade wasn’t as popular back in the 1990s as it is now. After observing the barbering industry, I had seen that men weren’t getting the same grooming services women were getting. There were no grooming services dedicated to wet shaving, beard trimming or hair treatment for men.
When I began barbering, my goal was to create a space that specialised in men’s grooming. I wanted to deliver more than just a short back and sides haircut, which dominated the industry at the time. I wanted to build an experience where men could enjoy enjoy grooming services as well as walking out with a satisfying haircut. It’s great to see grooming services offered in most barbershops today. Grooming techniques such as wet shaving, beard trimming and hair treatment are skills we focus on in the programme.
Study Barbering at Whitireia and WelTec
Learn hands-on industry level skills that will prepare you for a barbering career. Master the skills of clipper and scissor cuts and build crucial social skills to communicate with clients.
Explore the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Barbering programme →
