4 Day Intermediate Barber Development Course 

June 10th - June 13th 2027

Take Your Barbering From Basic to Confident, Consistent and High Performing

Already cutting hair but feel like your technique, confidence or consistency still needs work?

The Gents Academy Intermediate Barber Development Course is a four-day intensive barbering course designed for junior barbers, apprentices, hairdressers and developing professionals who already have some experience behind the chair but want to take their technical ability to the next level.

This is not a beginner barber course.

The program is built for barbers who already understand the basics of clippers, scissors and men's haircutting, but want stronger systems, cleaner execution, better consultations and greater confidence working with real clients.

Led by the experienced educators at Gents Academy in Queenstown, New Zealand, this hands-on course combines advanced barbering education with practical live-model training and real-world barbershop experience.

By the end of the course, the goal is for you to become a more technically capable, confident and commercially effective barber.

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Who Is This Barbering Course For?

This course is ideal for:

• Junior barbers with some industry experience
• Barbering apprentices
• Graduates of an introductory barbering course
• Hairdressers wanting to improve men's haircutting skills
• Barbers who struggle with consistency
• Barbers wanting to improve scissor work and fading
• Barbers who lack confidence with connection points
• Developing barbers wanting more live-model experience
• Barbers wanting to become more shop-ready
• Anyone wanting to strengthen their technical barbering foundations

Recommended Experience

Students should already have a basic understanding of:

• Clipper handling
• Scissor work
• Basic sectioning
• Fades or tapers
• Completing a basic men's haircut

If you have never cut hair before, our Gents Academy Intro to Barber Course is the better starting point.

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4 Day Barber Course Itinerary

Day One — Understanding Shape : Precision Cutting & Haircut Structure

Practical Training: Mannequin Heads

Day One introduces students to the fundamental principles of precision cutting through Gents Academy's The Blueprint framework.

Rather than learning individual haircuts through repetition, students will explore the technical principles that determine how hair behaves, how weight is distributed and how different shapes are created.

Understanding shape is one of the most important steps in developing from a junior barber into a confident, technically capable professional.

Students will explore how different cutting techniques and mechanics influence the final result, learning to approach haircutting with intent rather than guesswork.

Topics include:

• Initial technical skills assessment
• Understanding the three fundamental shapes: round, square and triangularHead shape, growth patterns and natural hair characteristics
• Precision sectioning and haircut mapping.
• The three fundamental cutting techniques: graduation, layering and line cuttingUnderstanding elevation and over-direction
• Weight distribution and internal versus external shape
• Body positioning, tension and cutting angles
• Scissor control and precision cutting mechanics
• Cross-checking, refinement and balance

Educator Demonstration & Practical Training

The day begins with a technical educator demonstration, breaking down the principles of shape and explaining how different cutting techniques influence the structure of a haircut.

Students will then apply these principles through guided practical exercises on mannequin heads, allowing them to develop their understanding of sectioning, cutting mechanics and shape construction.

Educators will provide individual coaching throughout the practical session, helping students recognise how their technical decisions affect the final result.

Learning Outcome

By the end of Day One, students will have developed a stronger understanding of how haircuts are constructed and the ability to recognise, create and control shape using a repeatable precision cutting system.

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Day Two — Understanding Connection Points : Blending, Weight Control & Complete Haircut Systems

Practical Training: Mannequin Heads

Day Two focuses on one of the most common challenges faced by developing barbers: understanding how different areas of a haircut connect.

While many junior barbers can perform individual clipper and scissor techniques, combining these skills into a balanced, complete haircut often requires a deeper understanding of shape, weight distribution and technical execution.

Students will explore how the sides, back and top of a haircut work together, learning how to create seamless connections or intentional disconnections depending on the desired result.

The focus is on developing a systematic approach to blending and connecting different areas of the haircut rather than relying on visual guesswork.

Topics include:

• Understanding the parietal ridge and connection zones
• Connecting the sides and back into the top
• Clipper-to-scissor connection techniques
• Scissor-over-comb and clipper-over-comb
• Managing weight lines and transitions
• Understanding connection versus disconnection
• Controlling weight around the crown
• Using graduation and layering to create connections
• Understanding how different shapes influence connection points
• Blending techniques and removing unwanted weight
• Identifying and correcting common connection problems
• Creating balanced and complete haircut structures

Educator Demonstration & Practical Training

The day begins with an educator demonstration focusing on how to connect different areas of a haircut using both clipper and scissor techniques.

Educators will explain the relationship between the shape established through precision cutting and the techniques required to create a balanced connection.

Students will then work on mannequin heads, practising different connection methods and learning how to identify and correct areas of unwanted weight or imbalance.

Throughout the practical session, educators will provide individual coaching to help students improve their technical control, accuracy and consistency.

Learning Outcome

By the end of Day Two, students will have developed a stronger understanding of how different areas of a haircut work together, improving their ability to create clean connections, manage weight and produce balanced, complete haircuts.

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Day Three — Creativity & Decision Making : Consultation, Problem Solving & Creative Development

Practical Training: Live Models

Day Three brings together the technical knowledge developed over the previous two days and challenges students to begin applying it independently.

Becoming a confident barber requires more than knowing how to perform individual techniques. It requires the ability to assess a client's hair, understand their expectations and make informed decisions about which techniques will achieve the desired result.

Students will explore how to combine their understanding of shape, connection points and cutting techniques to create different hairstyles, adapt to challenging situations and develop their own creative approach to haircutting.

The introduction of live models allows students to experience the variables that cannot always be replicated on mannequin heads, including different hair types, growth patterns, client expectations and individual suitability.

Topics include:

• Developing effective consultations and understanding client expectations
• Translating visual references into technical haircut plans
• Understanding suitability, face shape and individual hair characteristics
• Selecting appropriate shapes and cutting techniques
• Combining clipper and scissor work creatively
• Understanding connection versus disconnection
• Adapting techniques to different hairstyles and trends
• Creative problem solving and correcting technical mistakes
• Understanding modern barbering styles and their construction
• Product selection, styling and finishing
• Developing confidence in independent decision making

• Explaining and justifying technical decisions

Educator Demonstration & Live-Model Training

The day begins with an educator demonstration on a live model, showing students how to approach a haircut from the initial consultation through to the finished result.

Throughout the demonstration, the educator will explain the decisions being made, including the choice of shape, cutting techniques, connection methods and styling.

Students will then complete their own live-model haircuts under the guidance of Gents Academy educators.

Rather than simply following a predetermined haircutting process, students will be encouraged to assess their model, create a technical plan and explain the reasoning behind their decisions.

Educators will provide coaching throughout the process, helping students build confidence in their ability to make informed technical choices.

Learning Outcome

By the end of Day Three, students will have developed greater creative independence, stronger problem-solving skills and more confidence in applying their technical understanding to real clients.

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Day Four — Live Models & Coached Feedback

Real-World Application & Individual Development

Practical Training: Full Day of Live Models

The final day is dedicated entirely to applying everything students have learned in a professional barbershop environment.

Working with live models throughout the day, students will be responsible for delivering complete haircutting services, from the initial consultation through to styling and finishing.

Gents Academy educators will provide individual coaching and feedback, observing each student's technical ability, decision making, communication and overall approach to the client experience.

The focus is not simply on producing a good finished haircut, but on understanding the entire process and identifying areas for continued development.

Topics include:

• Live-model consultations and haircut planningIndependent technical decision making
• Applying precision cutting and shape principles
• Managing connection points and weight distribution
• Combining clipper and scissor techniques
• Adapting to different hair types and client requirements
• Improving commercial haircut timing
• Professional client communication
• Workstation management and service standards
• Styling, finishing and product recommendations
• Individual technical assessment and coached feedback

Educator Demonstration & Live-Model Training

The day begins with a final educator demonstration, reinforcing the complete haircutting process and highlighting the importance of consultation, planning, technical execution and finishing.

Students will then spend the remainder of the day working on live models, putting their knowledge into practice with greater independence.

Educators will observe each student's approach, providing individual coaching where necessary and encouraging students to recognise and correct their own mistakes.

The aim is to develop confidence, consistency and the ability to deliver a complete professional haircutting service.

Individual Development Assessment

Throughout the final day, educators will assess each student's progress across four key areas.

Technical Ability

Accuracy, control, consistency and execution across clipper and scissor techniques.

Technical Understanding

The ability to explain haircut structure, cutting techniques and the decisions made throughout a service.

Professionalism

Consultation, communication, client experience, time management and professional workflow.

Independence

Confidence, problem solving and the ability to work without constant guidance.

At the conclusion of the course, each student will receive personalised feedback highlighting their strengths, areas for improvement and recommended next steps in their barbering development.

The course concludes with:

• Final technical assessment
• Individual educator feedback
• Personal development recommendations
• Career pathway guidance
• Gents Academy Certificate of Completion

Learning Outcome

By the end of Day Four, students will leave with a clearer understanding of their current ability, greater confidence working with real clients and a structured direction for continuing their professional development.

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Why Train With Gents Academy?

Gents Academy delivers practical barbering education designed around the realities of working in a professional barbershop.

Our education focuses on more than simply recreating haircuts. We believe developing barbers should understand the principles behind their work so they can approach different clients, styles and challenges with confidence.

Through our structured approach to technical education, we teach students how to:

• Understand the principles behind different cutting techniques
• Make informed technical decisions
• Build repeatable haircutting systems
• Develop creativity through technical understanding
• Communicate professionally with clients
• Work more efficiently and consistently
• Identify and correct their own mistakes
• Develop greater confidence and independence behind the chair

Our progressive teaching approach allows students to develop their understanding in a controlled environment before applying those skills to real clients.

By combining mannequin-based technical training, daily educator demonstrations and live-model experience, students can build their confidence while receiving consistent feedback and support.

Whether you're progressing from our Intro to Barber Course, currently completing an apprenticeship or recently qualified, this programme provides an opportunity to strengthen your foundations and continue developing as a professional barber.

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Ticket Options

Standard – $1200
Mannequin heads and live models supplied by Gents Academy

Comprehensive – $1500

Comprehensive Ticket Includes : 

• Gents Academy Co Hair Theory Book
• JRL Magnetic Razor 
• YS Park Cutting Comb
• Precision Cutting Section Clips 
• $100 Gents Academy Credit ( Any National Courses )

 

Location

Gents Barbershop Queenstown CBD

35 Shotover Street
Queenstown, New Zealand

Training takes place inside a working professional barbershop, giving students genuine exposure to a real commercial environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course suitable for complete beginners?

No. This course is designed for junior barbers and students who already have some experience cutting hair.

Complete beginners should start with the Gents Academy Intro to Barber Course.

Is this the next step after the Intro to Barber Course?

Yes. The Junior Barber Development Course has been designed as a natural progression from our Intro to Barber Course.

While the introductory programme focuses on establishing the foundations of barbering, this course develops those skills further through precision cutting, connection points, creative decision making and practical live-model experience.

It is also suitable for apprentices, newly qualified barbers and developing professionals who have completed their initial training elsewhere.

How much barbering experience do I need?

There is no exact amount of time required.

You should already be comfortable using clippers and scissors and have experience completing basic men's haircuts.

If you're unsure whether your current level is suitable, contact Gents Academy before booking.

Is the course suitable for apprentices or newly qualified barbers?

Yes.

This programme is particularly suited to apprentices and newly qualified barbers who want to strengthen their technical understanding, improve consistency and develop greater confidence working independently.

Is the course hands-on?

Yes. This is a highly practical barbering course combining daily educator demonstrations, guided technical exercises, mannequin-head training and live-model haircutting.

Will I work on mannequin heads or live models?

Both. Days One and Two focus on technical development using mannequin heads, allowing students to practise precision cutting, shape and connection techniques in a controlled environment.

Day Three introduces live-model haircutting, focusing on creativity and technical decision making.

Day Four is dedicated to live-model haircutting, with individual coaching and assessment throughout the day.

Will there be educator demonstrations?

Yes. Each day includes an educator demonstration covering the techniques and principles being explored.

Educators will explain the technical decisions behind their work before students apply those principles during practical training.

Will I receive individual feedback?

Yes. Small class sizes allow our educators to provide personalised coaching throughout the course.

Students will also receive an individual development assessment highlighting their strengths and identifying areas for continued improvement.

Will this course make me a qualified barber?

No. This course is professional development training and does not replace a formal barbering qualification.

It is designed to improve the skills, confidence and technical understanding of developing barbers.

Do I receive a certificate?

Yes. Students who complete the course receive a Gents Academy Certificate of Completion.

Is accommodation included?

No. Students travelling to Queenstown will need to arrange their own accommodation.

Ready to Take Your Barbering to the Next Level?

If you can already cut hair but know there is another level to your technique, confidence and consistency, this course is designed for you.

Join Gents Academy in Queenstown for four intensive days of practical barbering education, exploring the principles of shape, connection points, creativity and technical decision making.

With daily educator demonstrations, structured mannequin training, live-model haircutting and personalised feedback, you'll develop the understanding and confidence needed to continue progressing behind the chair.

Places are intentionally limited to ensure every student receives individual coaching, practical experience and meaningful feedback throughout the programme.