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My First Salon Showcase

The capstone project for Hairdressing & Styling — a free Trades course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

A link to a Google Drive folder or a single PDF document containing 3 'before' photos, 3 'after' photos, and 3 short descriptions of the styles.

What to do, step by step

  1. Choose three different people (friends, family, or even yourself!) to be your 'clients'. Make sure they have different hair types or lengths if possible.
  2. For each client, plan and execute a complete hair transformation. This should include washing, treating (e.g., a simple conditioner mask), and then styling. Aim for variety – perhaps one braided style, one relaxed/straightened look (if applicable), and one natural curl enhancement or updo.
  3. Before you start, take a clear 'before' photo of each client's hair. After you've finished the styling, take a clear 'after' photo. For each client, also write a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) explaining the style you chose and why it suits them or the occasion.
  4. Compile your three 'before' photos, three 'after' photos, and the three descriptive paragraphs into a single document or presentation. You can use a free app like Google Docs or Canva on your phone to put it all together.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 6 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Quality of Hair Preparation (Washing & Treatment)25%
Creativity & Execution of Styling (Variety & Neatness)40%
Client Suitability & Description (Why the style works)20%
Presentation & Clarity of Submission15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Hairdressing & Styling before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Hairdressing & Styling is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 4 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

More Trades projects

Ready to earn this certificate?

Hairdressing & Styling is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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