Hairdressing Course vs Level 2 Hairdressing Diploma: Which Should You Choose?

If you want to pick up a specific skill quickly, the Advanced Cutting Training Course is the right choice. If you want a career in hairdressing, the Level 2 Diploma in Women's Hairdressing is where you need to be. Both courses run at House of GB Training Academy, but they are built for very different purposes. Understanding what each one actually delivers makes the choice straightforward.

The Advanced Cutting Training Course

What You Learn Over Three Days

You get three days of focused, hands-on training built around cutting techniques, split across theory and practical work. Because House of GB caps the group at four students, the teaching is personal throughout. You are not watching from the back of a crowded room. You are working directly with your instructor on live models from the start.

The practical element runs across all three days, giving you enough time to work through techniques properly rather than rushing through a checklist. Ongoing support and advice is included after you finish, so you are not left to figure things out alone once training ends.

The CPD Certificate and What It Means

On completion you receive a CPD accreditation from the Centre of Excellence. This shows clients and employers that your training meets a recognised standard. It is not something picked up from a YouTube tutorial. For anyone adding cutting to an existing skill set, that accreditation carries real weight.

It is worth being honest about the limits, though. CPD accreditation confirms training quality. It is not a regulated qualification in the same way a Focus Awards diploma is, and it does not carry the same standing with salons that are hiring fully trained stylists. It is the right credential for the right purpose.

Who This Course Is For

No experience is needed to join. The course suits complete beginners who want a solid, practical introduction to cutting, as well as professionals in related fields who want to add hair cutting to their services. Three days of small-group, live model training with ongoing support give you a genuine foundation rather than a surface-level introduction.

What it does not cover is the full range of skills a salon expects from a qualified hairdresser. Colouring, styling, client consultation, and hair science are not part of this course. If hairdressing as a full career is the goal, the diploma is the one you need.

The Level 2 Diploma in Women's Hairdressing

The Skills the Diploma Covers

The Level 2 Diploma covers hairdressing from the ground up. Cutting and styling, colouring and lightening, shampooing and conditioning, blow-drying, setting and dressing hair, and client consultation.You come out able to handle the full range of services a client expects when walking into a salon. That breadth is what makes it a career-ready qualification rather than a certificate that confirms you attended a short training programme.

Training takes place in a luxury salon environment at House of GB with experienced instructors working alongside you throughout. The facilities are professional-grade and reflect what working in a real salon actually feels like. Students receive ongoing support on completion, so the relationship with the academy carries beyond your final training day.

How the Course Runs

The diploma runs for two 8-hour days per week over 28 weeks. That structure gives you regular, consistent time in the salon to build real skill rather than rushing through techniques in a compressed format. You have enough time each week to absorb what you have covered before returning to build on it the following session.

There are no specific entry requirements. You just need to be 15 or over. The course is also CPD accredited, and 0% finance is available for those who need it. A £200 deposit secures your place.

What You Can Do After You Qualify

On completion, you receive a Level 2 Diploma in Women's Hairdressing, a recognised qualification that allows you to work in a salon, take on clients independently, and get properly insured. From there, the progression routes are wide. You can move into Level 2 NVQ qualifications in barbering, chemically treated hair, or African type hair, or go straight into Level 3 NVQ in Hairdressing. Students who complete the diploma leave qualified, insurable, and ready to work in salon employment, freelance, or self-employment.

The Real Difference Between the Two

Depth of Training

Three days versus 28 weeks. That gap in time reflects a gap in what each course can deliver. The Advanced Cutting Training Course teaches you a focused skill well, in small groups with live models and proper ongoing support. The Level 2 Diploma teaches you a full profession across every core area of women's hairdressing.

Both courses run at House of GB with the same standard of personal instruction and professional environment. The difference is not in teaching quality. It is entirely in scope. One course develops a specific skill. The other builds the complete foundation for a hairdressing career.

Career Outcomes

The CPD cutting certificate lets you add a service to an existing offering, build confidence before committing further, or demonstrate professional training to clients. What it does not do is qualify you to work as a hairdresser in a salon or to run a hairdressing business independently. The Level 2 Diploma is what changes that. You finish it qualified, insurable, and with a clear path to further progression in the industry if you want it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do the cutting course first and then move to the diploma?

Yes. Some students use the Advanced Cutting Training Course as an introduction to training at House of GB before committing to the full diploma programme. It is not a requirement, but it works well as a first step if you want hands-on experience before deciding.

Do I need experience to join either course?

No experience is needed for either. Both courses are open to complete beginners, and the Level 2 Diploma requires only that you are 15 or over.

What qualification do I get from the Level 2 Diploma?

You receive a Level 2 Diploma in Women's Hairdressing. It is CPD accredited and on completion you receive a recognised certification that allows you to work professionally and get insured as a hairdresser.

Is the cutting course worth it if I only want to cut hair for friends and family?

It is. Three days of small-group, live model training at an accredited academy give you proper technique and real confidence. It is a much stronger foundation than learning informally, and the CPD certificate shows the training was taken seriously.