INTERNATIONAL PROJECT Q & A
f you fly in on the Saturday before the project, you can choose to:
- Enjoy some personal sightseeing,
- Head straight to the accommodation to meet the Project Leader and early arrivals, or
- Explore the nearby city areas.
On Sunday morning, we do food shopping for breakfasts and lunches, followed by lunch together. In the afternoon, once all volunteers have arrived, we hold an induction session which includes:
- Cultural briefing
- Uniform distribution
- Training manual overview
- Team formation
- Resource packing
Volunteers are grouped into teams of 2–4 and assigned a training location.
From Monday to Friday, we deliver a five-day training program:
- Monday: Tool handling, head shapes, sectioning, and straight haircuts
- Tuesday: Diagonal cuts (forward/backward) and layering
- Wednesday: Graduation cuts / bob styles
- Thursday: Men's haircuts
- Friday: Advanced styles, followed by a graduation celebration with certificates and a Hair Aid scissor kit for each trainee
Training runs 9am–4pm daily. We work on live models from local communities, with a break for lunch when convenient for the group.
Training sites vary and may include:
- Church halls
- Community centres
- Inside slum areas
- Under tarps or in parks
- Roadside setups
- Air-conditioned rooms
All are within a 30–40 minute drive from accommodation.
Yes. Hair Aid works closely with local government and partners to ensure safety. Community leaders and translators are present at each site. Your Project Leader also visits your location during the week.
All volunteers stay together in shared, secure accommodation. While it’s not 5-star, all places have:
- Security
- Private bathrooms
- Comfortable shared rooms
Private rooms can be requested at an extra cost.
- Hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, and supporters are all welcome.
- Not yet qualified? No problem—emerging stylists are paired with experienced professionals.
- Not a hairdresser? Absolutely welcome! You’ll still be part of a team and assigned helpful tasks.
- Indonesia: AUD $2,117 per person
- Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam: AUD $2,345 per person
What’s Included:
- 7 nights’ accommodation
- Resource/tool purchases
- Ground transport + drivers
- Project insurance
- Team t-shirts and cap
- All admin/logistics (hall hire, translation, certificates, graduation celebrations, etc.)
What’s Not Included:
- Flights
- Private medical insurance (mandatory and must include COVID coverage)
- Food and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Travel to/from airports in your home country
We offer Laybuy via our website:
- Pay in full or in four instalments
- $500 non-refundable deposit due at sign-up
- Final payment due one month before project start
Yes! Hair Aid is a registered charity with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. You can raise funds through:
- Crowdfunding
- Raffles or Tricky Trays
- Wine & cheese nights
- Other creative events
- Hair Aid team t-shirts and cotton harem-style pants during training
- Caps/hats for sun protection (provided)
- No: low-cut tops, leggings, visible cleavage, shoulders, or midriffs
- No makeup or excess jewellery during training (plain wedding bands are fine)
Evening wear should still be modest—especially when out in groups. Please dress conservatively to respect local customs and protect team safety.
Makeup and bling can be intimidating for trainees and may impact learning engagement. We ask for no makeup, though tinted moisturiser with SPF is fine. Only nude or pale pink nail polish is permitted.
Please speak with your doctor for tailored medical advice. You’ll be travelling to tourist-friendly locations, but checking vaccinations is essential.
Yes! Once you send us your flight details, we’ll arrange:
- Pickup on arrival
- Drop-off after the project ends (if you’re flying home immediately)
Yes. Daily essentials:
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent (apply morning, lunch, night)
- Mosquito coils will be provided for your bathroom
No. Please only use bottled water for:
- Drinking
- Brushing teeth
- Making tea/coffee
We recommend buying a 5L filtered bottle and decanting into a personal drink bottle.
Yes! You’re welcome to travel before or after the project. Just coordinate your flight plans accordingly.
Budget for:
- Food and drinks ($6–$10 per meal)
- Snacks, bottled water
- SIM cards or internet
- Souvenirs or personal shopping
Both work. We suggest:
- Bringing AUD $100 converted into local currency before departure
- Using ATMs at the airport on arrival
In rare cases of ATM issues, your Project Leader can help with a short-term loan for essentials.
Yes. We recommend:
- Buying a local SIM card at the airport for instant internet access
- This is at your own expense
Yes—but bring either:
- A doctor’s letter confirming your prescription, or
- The original prescription itself
Always carry this documentation with your travel papers.
No. We use the tools we provide to trainees so you can:
- Check and quality-control their kits
- Keep your own tools safe at home