North Hertfordshire College’s Level 1 Hairdressing students had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of hair products and product development, thanks to a brilliant work experience project with sustainable brand KinKind.
The project started with KinKind founder and business owner Victoria Coe joining us on campus for a presentation about her company and its values. Our learners discovered how KinKind has grown over time and kept its mission of affordable, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly haircare products at the core of the business. With this new knowledge in mind, our learners were then challenged to research traditional hair product ingredients and manufacturing processes and compare this to KinKind’s work, helping them better understand the market and the hairdressing sector.
Our students were then divided into teams to create a series of short videos for social media to promote the business, highlighting their chosen positive aspects of each product and of the brand. Each group was also given samples of either a shampoo or conditioner bar to try out and showcase in their videos.
Half-way through the video project, our students took part in an Apprentice-style online meeting with Victoria, checking in with her to ensure their projects met her brief and were on-brand. Victoria’s feedback provided valuable guidance for our learners to create their final videos ahead of the showcase.
Emily S-B, who is working towards her Level 1 Hairdressing certificate with NHC, commented: “I enjoyed making an advert to help promote a smaller brand on social media. It has also helped me achieve my self-improvement target of being able to promote products and promote myself.”
Victoria joined us back at The Retreat for a group viewing of each of the finished films and a feedback session. We’re pleased to share that the final videos went down very well with Victoria, who not only enjoyed the creativity our students showed but also the way the project showed what young people think of KinKind’s brand – a key audience for the brand.
Even better, Victoria asked the students for permission to take their ideas and develop them even further, and the KinKind marketing team will now be using their work as inspiration for a future marketing campaign!
The experience has been valuable to our students in not only developing their knowledge of products and the business side of hairdressing, but also in showing the many different opportunities the hairdressing pathway provides for their future. Eloise W, one of NHC’s Level 1 Hairdressing students, told us: “the project showed me what else I can do in the future that involves hair, it’s opened up more options that we can choose from.”
Thank you to Victoria and KinKind for taking the time to work with our budding hairdressers.
Are you interested in starting your own journey into hairdressing? NHC’s Hairdressing, Barbering, and Beauty Therapy pathways are perfect for you! With NHC, you can stay close to home and take part in amazing experiences to help you go far in your future career.