Career library · Beauty, fitness and wellbeing
Hair stylist
Cutting and styling hair, well and consistently
What people in this work actually do
Consult clients, cut, colour and style hair, carry out treatments, maintain tools and hygiene, manage appointments and stock, and keep clients returning.
This may suit you if…
You have a steady hand and a good eye, you enjoy talking to people, and you want a trade you can set up on your own.
Standing with arms raised for long periods, which causes shoulder and back problems over the years. Weekend and evening work. Chemical exposure. A bad cut travels by word of mouth quickly.
We show these because nobody else will.
What people get wrong about this
That there is no skill ceiling. Specialised cutting and colouring work commands much higher prices, and the gap between an average and an excellent stylist is very large.
What this looks like in a smaller town
Every village and town supports salons, and a stylist who trains properly rather than only learning on the job can charge considerably more.
Ways into this work
There is almost always more than one route, and the cheapest is often perfectly respected.
Short hairdressing course
Short skill course · Starts from Class Classes 9 and 10
A three to twelve month hairdressing and styling course.
- How long
- 1 year
- What it costs
- Not yet verified
- Available near you?
- In most districts
How to do it
Find a recognised hairdressing course in your district and ask what it includes.
Learn in a salon
Learning on the job · Starts from Class Classes 9 and 10
Start as an assistant in a salon and learn by doing.
- How long
- 2 years
- What it costs
- Not yet verified
- Available near you?
- In most districts
How to do it
Ask in two or three salons whether they take and train assistants, and what they pay.
Skills that matter here
Serving people
Being patient and helpful with someone who is not.
Making things by hand
Turning materials into a finished object.
Designing something
Planning how a thing should look and work before making it.
See whether this fits your family
School is one of five parts of growing up. See how your child is doing across all five, what to try next at their age, and what it would honestly cost in your area.
Start freeSources
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Short-term skill training
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
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National Skills Qualifications Framework
National Council for Vocational Education and Training
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National Career Service
Ministry of Labour and Employment