Hairdresser Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a level 2 hairdresser - also known as a junior hairdresser - you would carry out tasks like:

• greeting customers
• shampooing hair
• making sure towels and supplies are ready for use
• keeping the salon clean and tidy.

As a level 3 hairdresser – also known as senior hairdresser – you would talk to clients about how they want their hair done, and give them advice and suggest style ideas.

Your work would include:

• shampooing and conditioning
• cutting and styling
• colouring, perming or straightening
• advising on minor hair and scalp problems
• making appointments and handling payments
• ordering materials
• making sure that hair products containing chemicals are used and stored correctly.

Both level 2 and level 3 include pathways for African type hair.

You could specialise in working with particular clients or techniques, for example in a men's barber shop or pressing, braiding and plaiting Afro-Caribbean hair.

Hours

You would usually work up to 40 hours a week, between 9 am and 5 pm or 6 pm. This would usually include Saturdays with a day off in the week. Some salons open late on one or two evenings. Part-time work is often available.

You could also offer a mobile hairdressing service, visiting customers in their homes.

Income

Pay for trainee hairdressers can be around the National Minimum Wage. This will vary depending on age. Visit the Directgov website for details of the National Minimum Wage.

• Directgov

Fully-trained hairdressers can earn up to £20,000 a year.

Top professional hairdressers can earn £30,000 a year or more, depending on who they work for and the location.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You can train as a hairdresser either full-time or part-time at a college. You could also work as a trainee, where you would learn on the job and go to college on day release. Whichever option you choose, you can gain qualifications including:

• Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Hairdressing and Barbering
• NVQ Diploma in Barbering at levels 2 and 3
• NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing at levels 2 and 3.

Visit the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA) website for information on qualifications and career paths in the hairdressing industry. HABIA does not provide courses and is not able to supply lists of course providers.

• Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA)

You may be able to become a hairdresser through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

Training and development

Once you are working as a hairdresser, you would need to keep up to date with new trends, techniques and products. Manufacturers sometimes run short courses on their haircare products.

As a qualified hairdresser, you could train to use more advanced techniques for colouring and perming, and assessing and dealing with hair problems. You could also develop your career by completing higher level qualifications, including:

• BTEC HNC/HND and foundation degrees in hairdressing (usually combined with salon management)
• degrees in beauty therapy and hairdressing.

The Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation (FHBF) offers training on planning, setting up and managing a hairdressing business, as well as ongoing training and Continuing Personal Development (CPD). See the FHBF website for details.

• Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation (FHBF)

Skills and knowledge

To become a hairdresser, you will need to have:

• good practical skills
• creativity
• customer service and 'people' skills
• an understanding and tactful approach
• an awareness of fashion
• willingness to learn new techniques and methods
• an awareness of health and safety issues.

More information

Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA)
www.habia.org

Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation (FHBF)
www.fhbf.org.uk

Opportunities

You could work as a hairdresser in salons throughout the UK. You could also find opportunities in a number of other places, such as hotels, hospitals and care homes, cruise ships and armed forces bases.

Another option could be to offer a mobile service, travelling to clients' homes rather than working in a salon.

With experience you could progress to jobs like senior stylist or salon manager. By taking suitable further qualifications, you could move into teaching and/or NVQ assessing.

Other options include wig making, training in make-up techniques and working in the television or film industry.

Please see the make-up artist job profile for more information.

• make-up artist

As well as checking local newspapers and Jobcentre Plus, you may find the following links useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):

• Hairdressers Journal
• HairdressingJobs

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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