Job description
Hairdressers are trained professionals that deliver a range of services including colouring, cutting and styling of the hair. They also recommend treatments and products to maintain the health of the hair and offer styling tips based on the client’s needs.
Duties
- Consult with clients to identify their goals
- Provide advice on suitable hair cut or colouring options
- Carry out haircuts, colouring, styling and treatments
- Offer styling tips to maintain the look at home
- Upsell products based on the client’s needs
- Answer telephone calls, schedule appointments and manage booking system
- Handle payments and create receipts for clients
- Display and arrange any visual merchandise
Skills, qualities and knowledge
Working hours and environment
Average working hours
40hweek
Typical schedule
Full Time
Nights and weekends occasionally
Most hairdressers work for a hair salon. Others are self-employed and work on a freelance basis, usually offering home services.
As a hairdresser, you’ll be expected to work long hours including weekend work. You may also be required to travel to clients’s homes to offer your services.
Salary
Bottom 10%
$18k
Median
$25k
Top 10%
$50k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Qualifications and training
Education level
High school
DVM / VMD degree
Study time
12months
To become a hairdresser, you must complete a college-accredited hairdressing programme, which can take up to a year to complete. Alongside your certification, you must also partake in hands-on shop experience working alongside an experienced hairdresser. Certain states also require continuing education credits that can be offered in the form of courses.
Job outlook
Projected growth
8%
No of new jobs
57.8k
Automation risk
11%
Career progression
Many hairdressers progress to set up their own hair salon or become a partner in an existing one. Others choose to move into teaching and training development by offering hairdressing courses.
You could also specialise in a certain type of hairstyling and focus on a niche in the industry. For example, you could focus on just bridal or theatrical hair and build up clientele for specific services.