A hairdresser meticulously styles hair to a customer’s specific specifications, such as changing length, colour, and volume. In this position, you can assist clients in leaving a salon feeling good about their appearance. Learning more about the qualifications and certifications required can help you decide if the career is right for you. In this article, we will explain HOW TO BECOME A HAIRDRESSER, review the average salary for the role, and provide a list of careers you can pursue in the field, including their average salaries and primary duties.
How does one go about becoming a hairdresser?
If you want to learn more about how to become a hairdresser, here are some steps you can take:
- Consider your responsibilities.
Before you start applying for hairdressing jobs, it’s important to understand the responsibilities that come with the job. You must ultimately answer to your customers, who may take their business elsewhere if they are dissatisfied with your service. Before submitting your CV, carefully review each job listing and identify keywords to better understand an employer’s expectations and make your application more effective. Then ask customers about their style preferences, such as hair length and volume; careful use of hairdressing equipment, such as clippers, scissors, and shampoo; monitoring your use of colouring chemicals to avoid damaging customers’ hair; cleaning your workspace after each haircut; ensuring customers feel comfortable throughout their visit, and staying current on changes in hairstyling trends.
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Evaluate your abilities
Once you understand the job, you can assess your current abilities. It’s beneficial to be a good communicator as a hairdresser, listening to clients’ requests before offering helpful solutions. You can also benefit from effective time management and completing tasks quickly without sacrificing quality. You can then increase your daily workload, increasing overall revenue. These abilities may already be present in you, depending on your personality. Otherwise, consider ways to develop these qualities on your own time, such as volunteering or joining a membership community.
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Obtain professional accreditations
You should then consider enrolling in a certified vocational course to gain industry-relevant technical knowledge. These courses frequently have a more narrow subject focus in order to prepare you for a specific job after graduation. During these programs, you also demonstrate that you are a hardworking individual who is committed to improving yourself in order to advance your career. You may then find it easier to persuade employers that you are worth hiring, resulting in your first professional position.
An NVQ Level 2 in hairdressing is the most basic certification you can obtain. During your studies, you will gain a basic working knowledge of hairdressing techniques such as cutting, shampooing, and scalp treatments. With this certification, you are legally qualified to apply for a junior hairstylist position at a salon.
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Completion of training
Depending on your circumstances, you may prefer to train for this profession in a salon on a part-time basis. If you are accepted into an apprenticeship program, you will be able to shadow a trained stylist in order to learn the fundamental principles of hairdressing. You could also assist your mentor with more fundamental hairstyling tasks, such as shampooing or conditioning a client’s hair.
The NVQ Level 2 course is also available as an apprenticeship. In this scenario, you could work four days a week at a salon while studying the fifth day at a higher education institution. You can earn money while learning if you take this route. This option may be especially appealing if you’re changing careers in your forties
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Look for work
Before you begin applying for jobs, you should update your CV to reflect your current situation. To help prospective employers see that you’re worth hiring, try to emphasize practical experience and education most relevant to a career in hairdressing. You can also make multiple copies of your CV, each one tailored to the needs of different businesses and positions.
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Work to advance your career.
You can advance your career by taking on more specialized duties at work. You may earn a higher salary if you obtain a responsible position. Earning additional certifications, particularly in a more specialized subject, can demonstrate to employers that you are an ideal candidate for senior roles.
If you want to be a colorist, you could get a Level 2 Certificate in Hair Coloring. During your studies, you will learn how to color hair as well as important safety precautions to take. To specialize in cutting men’s hair, you could pursue a Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Barbering.
The average pay for a hairdresser
A hairdresser’s annual salary in the United Kingdom is £23,137. Your earnings may also vary depending on external factors such as your location or certifications. Working for a niche stylist in a large city may result in a higher-than-average salary. This can reflect both the position’s skills and the large customer base.
What kinds of jobs can you get as a hairdresser?
As a hairdresser, you can pursue a variety of careers based on your experience, goals, and personal interests. Each role has its own set of responsibilities, challenges, and earnings. If you’re interested in a career in hairdressing, consider the following roles:
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Salon employee
The national average hourly wage is £8.95.
Primary responsibilities: A salon assistant is in charge of assisting more experienced colleagues with styling duties such as shampooing and conditioning clients’ hair. They may also be responsible for keeping the salon clean at all times. The direct supervisor, who is often the salon owner, may mentor them in this role. During busier times, they may assist colleagues by performing menial tasks such as answering phone calls.
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Fashion designer
The national average annual salary is £21,284
Primary responsibilities: Stylists in this position are in charge of all aspects of styling a client’s hair, from cutting to colouring and bleaching. To work in this position, they may need to be trained in the use of colouring chemicals. They may wear gloves during this process to protect their skin from chemical irritation. They may specialize in creating specific formal and informal hairstyles. Depending on their work experience, they may work for a salon or provide freelance services.
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Hairstylist
The national average annual salary is £24,732.
Primary responsibilities: They have a broader set of skills as barber stylists than their junior colleagues. They can easily create both short and long hairstyles and are familiar with the tools needed to do so. It is critical for stylists to stay current on fashion trends so that they can replicate them when clients request it. They may require you to gain practical experience before applying for such positions in order to ensure that you can effectively perform services that meet customer demands.
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Salon supervisor
The national average annual salary is £25,227.
Primary responsibilities: As salon managers, they supervise a large team of hairstylists, delegating duties based on the skills and experience of their staff. They are also in charge of the administrative aspects of running a business, such as hiring employees, filing tax returns, and creating a schedule. During a crisis or busy period, they may step in to help with hair styling or resolve interpersonal conflicts. They may also be the business owner, depending on the size of the organization. They can benefit from the business’s profits after expenses if they are both the owner and manager.
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Hair colouring expert
The national average annual salary is £29,678.
Primary responsibilities: They have more specialized knowledge about colouring hair as hair colour specialists, such as current trends or techniques for different hair types. They use their technical skills to assist customers in selecting a style and then creating it for the client. To advance their career to this level, they may need to complete a vocational course as well as extensive professional training. They may then use your reputation to work as a freelancer, focusing on regular clients and setting their own rates.