Overview of Growing a Career as a Barber
The work of a barber is a long-celebrated tradition that has changed little over the centuries. Barbers specialize in male haircuts, which must be precisely executed, as well as razor cutting or trimming beards, faces, throats, mustaches and sideburns. Barbers generally offer grooming services including shampooing, coloring, styling and often massage. A highly trained barber has the ability to correctly envision their client’s desires and create a style that best suits the client’s needs. Barbers must be highly trained in both hygiene and work health and safety to ensure the safety of themselves, their clients and their co-workers. As well as being able to address the needs of a range of clients with different hair types, successful barbers will be able to work under a range of conditions and have multiple techniques available in their skill set.
How Much Can I Make As a Barber?
The pay scale for hairdressers varies greatly, depending on the qualifications of the professional, the location, hours worked, type of business and state regulations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated, that hairdressers typically earn approximately $40,000 per year.
Requirements for a Barber
Research is the most important step to undertake when you are beginning any new career. One of the essential things to consider are the legal requirements for becoming a barber. This includes conducting thorough research into important aspects such as licensing and certification to ensure you are covered and providing the best service to your clients as possible. This is going to change depending on your own personal circumstances, so make sure you are specific in your inquiries. This can be an overwhelming process, and it may determine the path that you choose to take, whether it be working within an established business, or starting your own business. It is always best to ensure that you have an adequate support system in place to help you understand the requirements of the profession moving forward such as online communities.
Growing Your Career as a Barber
It is a general requirement for all barbers to receive industry-specific training before they can begin their career, either as a process within a larger course, or as a standalone course. Depending on the state in which you are gaining certification, there will be minimum requirements that must be met. As a profession stooped in tradition, it is important to learn the old school methods of barbering, as well as the new techniques. This will not only boost your knowledge and skills as a barber, but also help you to attain work as you stand above the rest of your peers in your qualifications and help your job readiness. Networking communities and associations are another great method in which to grow as a barber. Industry-specific communities such as these offer insight into trade secrets, as well as provide opportunities to grow one’s business opportunities. These types of groups exist to allow industry-specific professionals to build one another up in a competitive world, creating a sense of community that come together to support one another in your day-to-day work and share in celebrating each other’s successes as industry professionals in the field of barbering.