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Hairdresser

 

First things first and in case you didn't know...

… Although, let’s face it, you do!

 

Hairdressers, barbers, and stylists are skilled professionals who specialise in creating and maintaining hairstyles, including colour. While they share a common goal, there are subtle differences in their areas of expertise. Hairdressers typically work with both men and women, offering a wide range of services. 

 

Barbers primarily focus on men's hairstyles, specialising in haircuts, shaves, and beard grooming.

 

Stylists often emphasise fashion and trends, working with celebrity looks and/or fashion shows to create avant-garde or trendy looks.

Key skills/talents

  • Technical Proficiency: Mastery of various hairdressing techniques, including cutting, styling, colouring, and perming.

  • Creativity: The ability to envision and create unique hairstyles and looks.

  • Customer Service: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with clients and build relationships.

  • Problem-Solving: The capacity to address client concerns and find solutions to styling challenges.

  • Attention to Detail: Precision and care in executing hairstyles to ensure high-quality results.

  • Physical Stamina: The ability to stand for long periods and perform repetitive tasks.

  • Adaptability: The willingness to learn new techniques and styles as trends evolve.

  • Hygiene and Safety: Adherence to sanitary practices and safety regulations.

  • Teamwork: The ability to collaborate with colleagues in a salon environment.

  • Client Care: Strong listening, empathy, and communication skills to understand what clients want and how you can deliver it

  • Attention to Detail: Precision in creating accurate looks. Mistakes can often be rectified, but hair is very personal to a lot of people, so getting it right is the goal.

  • Cross-Cultural Competence: Ability to work effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds.

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​Qualifications required

To become a hairdresser in the UK, you'll typically need a Level 2 or 3 Hairdressing Apprenticeship, which combines on-the-job training with classroom learning. Alternatively, you can pursue a Hairdressing Diploma offered by most colleges or training providers.

 

GCSEs in English and Maths can be beneficial, although they're not strictly necessary.

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While hairdressing education is available nationwide, some regions are renowned for their prestigious institutions:

  • London: The capital city offers a plethora of options, including London College of Fashion, Toni & Guy Academy, and Vidal Sassoon Academy.

  • Manchester: Manchester Metropolitan University and TONI & GUY Manchester are excellent choices.

  • Birmingham: Birmingham College of Food, Tourism, and Hospitality provides quality hairdressing courses.

  • Edinburgh: Napier University and Edinburgh College of Art offer programs in hairdressing and beauty.

 

Most people undertake qualifications whilst undertaking an apprenticeship with a salon, which is what Simon did.​

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Rules and regs

Hairdressing businesses must adhere to specific regulations to ensure a safe and compliant workplace. These include:

 

If you are a freelance hairdresser, rather than a paid employee, you should also get Public Liability insurance. Most UK Insurance companies will offer this; below are some examples: 

https://www.axa.co.uk/business-insurance/hairdressing-insurance

https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/insurance/hairdressers

https://www.ripeinsurance.co.uk/small-business/hair-and-beauty-insurance/hairdressers-public-liability

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Remuneration framework

As always this is a ‘how long is a piece of string’ situation, because location, experience and even salon footfall play huge contributing factors.

 

Junior or newly qualified hairdressers typically earn around £18,000 to £20,000 per year, while more experienced stylists can earn between £30,000 and £40,000 annually. 

 

Highly experienced stylists and salon owners can, however, earn significantly more than that.

 

A ‘rough’ pay scale looks something like this…

Junior Stylist / Assistant = £18-22,000

Barber = £26,000

Stylist = £26,000

Senior Stylist = £30-35,000

Salon Manager = £28-35,000

 

Estimated additional pay is £8,205 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and a degree of profit sharing.

 

The area of hairdressing you work in can impact how much you can earn (i.e. specialising in men’s barbering, or colouring and not cutting). 

 

Self-employed hairdressers can work at a wider range of rates than salaried employees, however, they lose some benefits that employees have, such as sick pay, paid holiday leave, insurance. They also have costs like insurance and salon chair rental to consider.

 

Hairdressers who work in the entertainment industry, such as on film sets, can earn upwards of £400 per day.

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How to get started

There are two primary paths to a career in hairdressing or barbering:

 

Regardless of the chosen path, most aspiring hairdressers and barbers will work towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

 

As we’ve already said, most qualifications run alongside a salon apprenticeship, which means once qualified, you start day-to-day work for the salon and progress to a level that suits, and then onwards from there.

 

We would strongly recommend the salon-link when becoming qualified, purely because it’s the ‘known’ way. However, it is completely possible to do a course while working in a completely different role, and then applying for jobs thereafter. You, of course, have to undertake A LOT of practical experience as part of your course, so bear that in mind with any other work you do.

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Job site links

Along with the usual job board sites, such as Indeed and Reed, The British Hairdressing Association claims to have the biggest range of hairdressing jobs in the UK: https://www.britishhairdressingassoc.co.uk

 

However, you’ll know the hairdressers near you, or near where you want to be, so always speak to them direct about any current, or indeed potential opportunities.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) is one of the UK’s largest trade bodies for businesses working in the hair, beauty and barbering industries. The NHBF focuses on helping members to run successful and profitable hair and beauty businesses by providing advice, specialist support and tailored services to meet the unique challenges of running a salon or barbershop: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home 

 

The Freelance Hairdressers’ Association (FHA), the trade association for Freelance Hairdressers

has a rich history of over 30 years, supporting thousands of members, both current and past, in their freelance endeavours. The association has been instrumental in advocating for freelancers, providing a community-focused support network, tailored insurance options, and industry-leading training and events: https://thefha.org.uk

 

Habia is the government-recognized authority for setting standards in the hair, beauty, nails, spa therapy, barbering, and African-Caribbean hairdressing industries. Its mission is to uphold and elevate professionalism by establishing standards for qualifications, Codes of Practice, and Industry Guidelines. Habia works closely with educational institutions and industry professionals to provide current information on education, qualifications, and skills. As a non-profit organisation, Habia reinvests surplus revenue into projects that benefit the hair and beauty industries. https://habia.org


The Hair and Barber Council strives to elevate standards and professionalism within the hairdressing and barbering industry by encouraging all hairdressers and barbers to join the UK Register of Qualified Hairdressers and Barbers. Established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, the Hair and Barber Council empowers hairdressers and barbers to become State Registered. https://haircouncil.org.uk

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Progression pathway​

The different job levels are listed above, so it really is a case of working through the ranks, and as Simon says in the chat, be prepared to graft. 

 

If you do graft, and if you’re smart, you can progress quickly. However, as Simon also says, be prepared for 10-years of ‘graft’ before you’re at a level where you can pick and choose your hours and still earn good money.

 

Flexibility comes at a cost - of earnings or time/experience.

 

As Simon also touches on in the chat, there are HUGE options to travel with this career, because your skills are massively transferable. Once qualified you could work almost anywhere around the world… You could even end up in LA working for Hollywood celebs.

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