Headquarters Salon

How the Six Weeks Work

Each Tuesday gives you the information and preparation you need for Wednesday's hands-on technical training. The rest of the week reinforces what you learned through practice, coaching, and verification.

• Tuesday: Learn, Review, and Prepare in the Staff Hub.
• Wednesday: Watch the Demonstration, Practice, and Receive Coaching.
• After Training: Complete Any Remaining Practice or Verification.
• Completion: Learning Completion, Knowledge Verification, and Technical Competency Are Tracked Separately.

Boulevard Professional App

For today, focus only on signing in and learning the Professional App. The rest of the Boulevard training library will be assigned later when it supports the work you are learning.

HQ Communication & Accounts

Set up each account and confirm that you can sign in before moving on.

• Google Chat: Join the required HQ spaces and review where announcements, salon forms, and team communication live.
• QuickBooks Workforce: Activate your payroll account and confirm access.
• Boulevard Professional: Sign in, confirm your schedule is visible, and make sure you know how to clock in and clock out.
• Aveda PurePro: Activate your professional education account.
• Neill University: Register for education access.

Shelby verifies: Access is working and the required spaces/accounts are complete.

Consultation & Guest Experience

A quality consultation and memorable guest experience should remain consistent across every service at HQ.

• The Welcome: Create a warm first impression. Be ready, stand, smile, greet the guest by name, introduce yourself confidently, and help them feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.
• The Service: Begin with a thoughtful consultation. Ask open-ended questions, listen carefully, assess what is relevant to the service, clarify expectations, explain your recommendation, and agree on the plan before beginning. Keep the guest informed, comfortable, and included throughout the experience.
• The Finish: Create a strong final impression. Review the result, provide useful home-care and maintenance guidance, recommend appropriate products, discuss the next visit, thank the guest by name, and personally escort them to the front desk.

How Week 2 Works

Tuesday connects Aveda education to the exact services performed at HQ. Wednesday, Angi demonstrates the services, coaches your practice, and records each technical outcome separately.

• Scalp Renewal: Learn the complete treatment—not the mini Scalp Revival used in the Tailored Haircut.
• Facial Services: Learn the Express Facial and Mini Cooling Facial products, preparation, safety, and service flow.
• Neill University: Complete all three assigned courses, then return here to confirm completion.
• Knowledge Check: Complete all ten learning items to unlock the quiz. An 80% score is required to pass.

Scalp Essentials

Sign in to Neill University. If this course is not already on your student dashboard, add it to your learning first. Complete the Scalp Essentials course, then return here and confirm completion.

Scalp Renewal 15-Minute Treatment

Sign in to Neill University. If this course is not already on your student dashboard, add it to your learning first. Complete the professional Scalp Renewal service and products course, then return here and confirm completion.

Skincare Product Knowledge

Sign in to Neill University. If this course is not already on your student dashboard, add it to your learning first. Complete the Aveda skincare course, then return here and confirm completion.

Scalp Solutions at HQ

Circle back to the product knowledge from Neill University, then connect each product to how it is used during HQ's Scalp Renewal Treatment. This is different from the Tailored Haircut's mini Scalp Revival, which uses only the appropriate serum.

• Stimulating Scalp Massager: Prepares the scalp before the shampoo-bowl portion of the service. Use gentle circular motions and work systematically across the scalp.
• Exfoliating Scalp Treatment: Apply through clean partings without touching the nozzle to the scalp. Distribute, dampen, and lather before shampooing; do not rinse it out first.
• Scalp Solutions Balancing Shampoo: Cleanses after the exfoliating treatment has been distributed and lathered.
• Scalp Solutions Hydrating Scalp & Hair Masque: Hydrates a normal-to-dry, stressed scalp and helps reduce flaking caused by dryness. At HQ, apply it to the scalp.
• Scalp Solutions Conditioner: Apply to the remaining hair when it is long enough to permit. Many HQ guests have short hair, so use it only where there are mids and ends to condition.
• Hydrating Scalp Serum: Select for a normal-to-dry scalp.
• Purifying Scalp Serum: Select for a normal-to-oily scalp.

HQ Facial Product Knowledge Recap

Circle back to the product knowledge from Neill University, then connect each product to how it is selected and used in HQ facial services.

• Professional Light Composition Oil: Used to cleanse during the Mini Cooling Facial and to finish the neck ritual. It provides nourishment and lasting slip.
• Purifying Gel Cleanser: Gel cleanser selected at HQ for normal-to-oily or combination skin.
• Professional Balancing Cleanser: Gentle cream cleanser that removes impurities and environmental pollutants while helping maintain the skin's moisture barrier. Aveda identifies it as suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acneic skin; at HQ it is selected for normal-to-dry skin.
• Botanical Kinetics Exfoliating Exfoliant: Gentle, non-abrasive liquid exfoliant. Apply with cotton rounds using upward and outward movements; it is the better selection for more sensitive skin.
• Botanical Kinetics Radiant Skin Refiner: More abrasive exfoliant that may be used on all skin types when that level of exfoliation is appropriate. Apply with wet hands using upward movements.
• Intense Hydrating Masque: Oil-free gel masque that provides cool, soothing relief from dryness. Plant-derived glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and betaine help hydrate while rosewater helps tone and refresh. Apply with a clean masque brush and avoid the eye area.
• Hydrating Treatment Lotion: Apply using gentle upward movements after masque removal.
• Energizing Eye Creme: Apply gently over the orbital bone with ring fingers, moving from the inner corners outward and avoiding direct eye contact.
• Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion: Quick-absorbing moisturizer suitable for all skin types; used in both facial services.
• Cooling Balancing Oil Concentrate: Provides cooling refreshment. Use 2–3 drops for the Mini Cooling Facial breathing ritual and avoid contact with the eyes.

Facial Safety & Service Readiness

Before the Guest Is Seated

Review the booked add-on and gather every product, tool, towel, bowl, brush, cotton round, facial roller, or scalp brush needed from the backbar shelf. Bring everything to the station and complete the setup before seating the guest so the experience remains seamless.

Observe and Adjust

• Do not perform a facial service when the guest has active irritation, broken skin, or signs of infection.
• A guest with mild inflammation or redness may receive the facial, but skip the exfoliation step.
• Explain any service adjustment to the guest before proceeding.

After Every Service

• Facial rollers and scalp brushes: Place in the designated Barbicide jar at the back sink for at least 10 minutes. Move them to the drying rack. Once completely dry, return facial rollers to the freezer and scalp brushes to their spot on the backbar shelf.
• Facial masque brushes: Wash at the back sink with dish soap, rinse thoroughly, and leave on the drying rack. Once completely dry, return them to the backbar shelf.
• Products: Return all products used during the facial or Scalp Renewal Treatment to the backbar shelf.
• Single-use supplies and towels: Dispose of or place them in the appropriate laundry location, then clean and reset the station.

How Week 3 Works

This week becomes personal. Your path is based on what Angi observed during your first two weeks and what you identify as challenging, worth refining, or exciting to explore.

Help Shape Your Week 3 Training

Complete this before Angi's Saturday review. Your answers give you a voice in the plan and help Angi adjust your Week 3 learning objectives, but they do not automatically determine your path.

Training Path Assignment

Angi considers two weeks of guest-floor observation, your self-assessment, and the mechanics demonstrated in your work.

Men's Haircut Design Foundations

A haircut template is the roadmap. Before cutting, assess the guest and decide where length and weight need to live.

• Analyze first: Texture, density, growth patterns, head shape, lifestyle, maintenance, and desired finish influence the plan.
• Section with purpose: Use clean sections that make the guide and intended shape easy to follow.
• Control weight: Length, elevation, and over-direction determine where weight is built, retained, or removed.
• Maintain tension: Consistent tension supports accuracy. Hand placement, anchor points, and supporting the head improve control.
• Position intentionally: Adjust your body, chair height, and the guest's head rather than reaching or cutting from a distorted angle.
• Use the correct stroke: A short-radius clipper stroke builds weight quickly; a longer-radius stroke creates a more gradual taper.
• Check continuously: Comb the hair into its natural fall, cross-check balance, feel for excess weight, and look from more than one angle.

Choose the Correct Haircut Service

Using clippers does not make a haircut a fade. Correct service selection depends on the shortest length, the blending architecture, the service experience, and the time required.

Apply the rule

One Design Process, Four Shapes

Open each guide before Wednesday practice. The progression moves from the longest mannequin result to the shortest so each cut preserves enough hair for the next assignment.

1. Long Scissor Cut / Men's Shag

Long

• Preserve intentional length while building movement.
• Focus on sectioning, elevation, over-direction, layering, weight distribution, texturizing, and styling.

Open Learning Guide

2. Classic Scissor Cut

#3–#5 Equivalent

• Create a classic shorter shape primarily through scissor work.
• Focus on finger tension, graduation, scissor-over-comb, connection, and balance.

Open Learning Guide

3. Short Clipper Cut

#1–#2.5

• Build consistent length and a clean connection without assuming the service is a fade.
• Focus on clipper control, guard selection, stroke direction, tapering, and connection.

Open Learning Guide

4. Fade

Under #1 + Transition

• Create a deliberate transition from very short areas into longer lengths.
• Focus on guideline placement, guard progression, line removal, parietal connection, and efficiency.

Open Learning Guide

Long Scissor Cut / Men's Shag

Design Goal

Create a relaxed, wearable shape with intentional length, movement, and balanced weight. The perimeter and internal layers should work together without making the ends look thin.

Assess Before Cutting

• Identify texture, density, growth patterns, natural part, recession, head shape, current layers, and the guest's styling routine.
• Agree on the shortest acceptable areas, the amount of movement desired, and where the guest wants fullness retained.
• Choose a plan for the fringe, crown, perimeter, and connection around the ears before removing length.

Cutting Roadmap

1. Establish clean working sections and a visible guide. Use subsections small enough to see and control that guide.
2. Set the perimeter and longest points first. Preserve the length needed for the intended silhouette.
3. Build internal movement with controlled elevation. Use over-direction intentionally to preserve length or weight.
4. Connect the sides, top, and back without automatically removing every area of weight; intentional disconnection may be appropriate when it supports the design.
5. Refine around the face, ears, crown, and perimeter after checking natural fall.

Technique Decisions

• Elevation: Lower elevation retains more weight; higher elevation removes more weight and increases movement.
• Tension: Keep tension consistent and reduce tension around strong growth patterns or areas that will spring when dry.
• Texturizing: Personalize only after the shape is established. Avoid thinning already-fine ends or creating holes in dense sections.

Common Problems to Watch

• Removing too much perimeter weight; losing length through over-direction; inconsistent layers; over-texturizing; cutting the crown without respecting growth.

Style and Check

Choose a finish that supports movement and the guest's routine. Light Elements Texturizing Creme, Texture Tonic, Grooming Cream, or a light layer of Defining Whip may support different versions of this result.

Classic Scissor Cut

Design Goal

Create a controlled, balanced shape comparable to a #3–#5 length while using scissor work to customize weight, contour, and movement.

Assess Before Cutting

• Determine whether the desired contour is square, round, or leaner through the sides and how the profile should balance the guest's features.
• Identify the parietal ridge, occipital, crown, recession, ears, neckline, density changes, and growth patterns.
• Decide whether the connection will be fully blended or intentionally retain weight.

Cutting Roadmap

1. Section the top from the lower zones and establish a dependable guide panel.
2. Build the lower shape with conventional sections, scissor-over-comb, or a combination appropriate to the length and texture.
3. Control graduation through consistent comb angle, finger angle, tension, and body position.
4. Establish the top length and connect it through the transition without rounding a shape intended to remain square.
5. Refine the outline and neckline, then cross-check at 90 degrees to the original cutting sections.

Technique Decisions

• Scissor-over-comb: The comb determines the length and contour. Keep the comb moving consistently and avoid chasing isolated dark areas too early.
• Weight: Check the widest areas of the head before removing bulk; a flat occipital may need retained weight, while a pronounced occipital may need weight redistributed.
• Cross-check: Comb into natural fall, compare front and profile contours, and check balance from more than one angle.

Common Problems to Watch

• Rounding the corners unintentionally; losing the guide; uneven tension; cutting from a stretched body position; over-removing weight at the parietal ridge.

Style and Check

Grooming Cream supports touchable control, Liquid Pomade or Pure-Formance Pomade supports polished definition, and Grooming Clay supports a more matte textured result.

Short Clipper Cut

Design Goal

Create a clean short cut in the #1–#2.5 range with consistent length, controlled tapering, and a deliberate connection to the top. Using clippers does not automatically make this service a fade.

Assess Before Cutting

• Confirm the shortest length, desired outline, amount of scalp exposure, top length, connection, and maintenance schedule.
• Check growth direction, cowlicks, density, scalp condition, head-shape changes, and previous clipper lines.

Cutting Roadmap

1. Stage guards, clippers, trimmer, combs, scissors, and finishing tools before beginning.
2. Remove bulk methodically. Work against growth when at-tolerance cutting is needed and maintain even contact.
3. Use a controlled pivot or fanning motion to taper and build graduation without creating a hard line.
4. Connect the lower zones to the top with clipper-over-comb, scissor-over-comb, or controlled guard work.
5. Refine the outline only after the internal shape and balance are established.

Technique Decisions

• Stroke radius: A short, abrupt stroke builds weight quickly; a longer outward stroke creates a softer transition.
• Raking and tension: Direct hair consistently so the clipper can cut evenly, particularly through changing growth patterns.
• Service classification: A uniform #1 or #2.5 and a simple taper are not automatically fades. Classification depends on the complete design and blending complexity.

Common Problems to Watch

• Uneven pressure; missed growth directions; a heavy shelf at the parietal ridge; chasing shadows without recombing; outlining too early or too aggressively.

Style and Check

Choose Grooming Clay for matte texture, Grooming Cream for natural control, Pomade for polished definition, or Firm Hold Gel when maximum structure and shine are requested.

Fade

Design Goal

Create a clean progression from very short areas—generally below a #1—into longer lengths through precise guideline placement and intricate blending. The transition, not the mere use of clippers, defines the service.

Assess Before Cutting

• Confirm the lowest length, fade height, desired weight through the parietal ridge, top connection, outline, and maintenance expectations.
• Identify dents, ridges, flat areas, pronounced occipital shape, density changes, growth direction, scalp visibility, and previous lines.

Cutting Roadmap

1. Set the first guideline deliberately and keep its height balanced around the head.
2. Create enough working space for each transition. Avoid stacking guidelines so closely that there is no room to blend.
3. Progress through the necessary blade, lever, or guard lengths in a consistent order.
4. Remove each visible line with the smallest effective adjustment, controlled corner work, and an appropriate stroke radius.
5. Connect into the longer area without driving the fade higher than the agreed design.
6. Refine only after stepping back, recombing, and checking the head from front, profile, and back.

Technique Decisions

• Short areas: Work with controlled pressure and respect scalp sensitivity and irregular head shape.
• Line removal: Use corners and small adjustments rather than widening the shortest band unnecessarily.
• Weight: Decide whether weight should remain at the ridge or be softened; do not remove it simply because it appears darker at close range.

Common Problems to Watch

• Guidelines placed too high; insufficient space between transitions; skipping lengths; creating new lines while removing old ones; chasing shadows caused by density or head shape; an uneven fade height.

Style and Check

Match the top finish to the agreed result. Grooming Clay supports matte separation, Pomade supports high-shine control, Liquid Pomade supports movement and shine, and Firm Hold Gel supports maximum structure.

Choose the Finish, Then the Product

Connect the product decision to the haircut, hair condition, guest routine, and desired result.

• Hold: How much structure must the product provide?
• Finish: Should the hair look matte, natural, textured, smooth, or polished?
• Control: Does the hair need flexibility, separation, definition, frizz control, or stronger placement?
• Hair characteristics: Consider length, density, texture, condition, and natural movement.
• Application: Decide how much to use, whether hair should be damp or dry, where to begin, and how to distribute it evenly.
• Home use: Recommend only what the guest can realistically recreate.

Your Personal Practice Plan

Before hands-on training, you should know what you are practicing, why it was selected, and what successful progress will look like.

• Assigned path: Technical Foundations, Skill Refinement, or Advanced Exploration
• Assigned haircut or service focus
• Your challenge: The area needing direct support
• Your refinement goal: The comfortable skill you want to polish
• Your curiosity goal: The area you want to explore
• Angi's coaching targets: The specific mechanics she will demonstrate and observe
• Practice format: Mannequin, model, demonstration, or another approved activity

Skills are verified separately

Each assigned coaching target can be marked Not Started, Needs Coaching, Developing, or Verified. Assigned work that is not completed on Wednesday of Week 3 is carried into Wednesday of Week 5.

Aveda Styling Products at HQ

Start with the result the guest wants, then consider hair length, texture, density, condition, routine, hold, and finish. Use the smallest effective amount and add more only when needed.