Hair Stylist
Justin Cooke (25), Hair Stylist, Toni & Guy
How did you get into your job? My Aunt was a hairdresser and I used to sit around and watch while she did clients' hair. When I left school at 16 I joined a salon in my hometown of Brighton as a trainee. This was great as I was getting a wage and they allowed me to go to college one day a week. You have to do this to get any formal recognition.
Job history: Becoming a hairdresser is hard work and there are no short cuts. When I was a salon trainee (basically sweeping up hair and taking towels to the laundrette), I did my National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Hairdressing. I did my NVQ Level 1, which is an introduction to the basic skills needed to work in a salon. Then I got my NVQ Level 2; this covers the basic competency to work as a stylist or barber. The practical skills at this level are blow-drying, cutting, colouring and perming. This is the stage where you take on lots more responsibility and can start working unsupervised. I moved down to London at this stage and was lucky enough to get a job as a stylist. They were great and allowed me to do my NVQ Level 3, where you develop the skills you need to be a senior hairdresser. This means I can develop responsibilities around the salon like financial management and start supervising and training juniors.
Best/worst bits: The best bit of the job is that it's so social. The sort of people who go into this as a profession are usually up-for-it, and game for anything, so there's never a dull moment. I think the job's fabulous, so I don't feel there's a downside. But, if you don't like long hours, standing on your feet all day and having to be constantly upbeat, this job isn't really for you.
Advice for wannabees: The main advice I'd give is to be very hard working, creative and able to talk the hind legs off a donkey. You've got to be genuinely interested in how the customer feels and have a great eye for detail.
CV essentials: Unless your family owns a salon, you have to work your way up from the bottom I'm afraid. Unfortunately, there really aren't any ways to cut corners.
Application process
As Justin pointed out, becoming a professional hairdresser is a long, hard slog. Hairdressing is worth nearly £3billion to the UK economy but only a handful of hairdressers make it to the top. It takes around three years to qualify, but even after this period the average salary is just under £1,000 per month. Most salons set their hairdressers a 'cash and client' target each month. If a hairdresser hits their targets, they get commission on top of the basic salary.
NVQ Level 1 is the entry level for budding hairdressers. NVQ Level 2 involves more responsibility, allowing you to use chemicals and work unsupervised. Level 3 means you can handle the books and train other staff members. In order to progress into salon management, NVQ Level 4 is required. This is the highest qualification in the industry.
Job description
Hairdressing is also a very hierarchical industry and there's a highly-defined career route. Most hairdressers start out as a trainee or part of the 'support crew'. This basically involves sweeping up hair, making tea and running errands. The pay is usually poor, but on-the-job training is given.
Skills/experience/training
The training code of hairdressers is governed by the National - or Scottish - Vocational Qualification in Hairdressing. Levels 1-4 dictate what duties a stylist can undertake from 'support crew' to salon manager.
Personality/Who it would suit
Being a hairdresser is not as glamorous as it first appears. The job involves hard work and long hours, so you need to have a real passion for the field. The job is best suited to outgoing, chatty people who have a genuine interest in others. If you have a sociable, extrovert personality and enjoy making people look the best they can, this may be the job for you.
Hairdressing is not a job for people who don't like hard work or believe they can get to the top overnight. It also helps if you are the kind of person who genuinely enjoys hearing about other people's holidays, shopping, relationships etc.
Career prospects
Hairdressing is a very competitive field and in addition to qualifications, hard work, talent and your networking abilities will determine how far you go. Senior stylists can expect to earn in excess of £25,000.
Got a career you want us to cover? Just let us know and we'll do our best to include it in this section.
Pros and cons
You usually get to work with a sociable group of people;
The job involves hard work and long hours;
You get to work with a variety of different clients;
You have to start at the bottom, which usually involves sweeping up, making tea and washing dirty towels.
You get to make people look the best they can.
by Mo Kanneh
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