Hairdresser
Hairdressers and barbers cut, shave, colour and style customers' hair.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a hairdresser or barber you could:
- talk to customers and discuss styling ideas
- wash, cut and style hair
- apply colours, tints, braids and hair extensions
- trim and shape beards and moustaches
- finish jobs using hair products
- order stock, take payments and make appointments
Working environment
You could work in a salon, in a barbershop, at a client's home, at a health spa or on a cruise ship.
Your working environment may be physically active.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- become a senior stylist, barber or salon manager
- open your own salon or barbershop
- get qualified to train or assess student hairdressers or barbers
- work freelance and rent space in a salon
- use your skills as a hair professional in the theatre, film or television industries
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with your hands
- active listening skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work on your own
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to learn through your work
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become
You could get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could take a college course that will give you some of the skills and knowledge you'll need to start in this career.
Courses include:
- hairdressing
- barbering
- women's and men's hairdressing
You may be able to combine these courses with other subjects like make-up and nails.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You could apply to do an apprenticeship to get into this job, for example:
- Hairdressing Professional Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Barbering Professional Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
These apprenticeships take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You might be able to start work as a trainee hairdresser or barber and learn on the job.
Your employer would expect you to take a part-time course to get qualifications, either at a college or in their own training school.
You may also be able to work freelance and rent space in a salon or barbershop, though you'll usually have to supply your own equipment.
Career tips
If your aim is to manage or open your own salon or barbershop, it may help to get some business qualifications alongside hairdressing experience.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in hairdressing and barbering from the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) and National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF).
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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.