Starting and Growing a Career as a Hairdresser
A hairdresser is a beauty professional who specializes in the transformation of clients through their hair. This can include changing a client’s hairstyle, hair color, and by treating dry or damaged hair to restore its heath. A highly trained hairdresser has the ability to correctly envision their client’s desires and create colors and styles that best suit the client’s hair. Hairdressers can work in a range of locations, including beauty salons, day spas, hotels and resorts. All hairdressers must be highly trained in both hygiene and work health and safety to ensure the safety of themselves, their clients and their co-workers. Regardless of the type of hairdressing being required or the type of hair their client has, a successful hairdresser will be able to work under a range of conditions and have multiple techniques available in their skill set.
How Much do Hairdressers Earn?
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 reports hairdressers typically earn $24,370 per year.
Requirements for a Hairdresser
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 hairdresser. 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.
How to Make More Money as a Hairdresser
It is a general requirement for all hairdressers 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 rapidly growing industry, it may be beneficial to expand your qualifications past those minimal requirements anyway. This will not only boost your knowledge and skills as a hairdressing artist, 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 hairdresser. 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 comes together to support one another in your day to day struggles and share in celebrating each other’s successes as industry professionals in the field of hair and beauty.
Search through the resources below to begin your journey into your dream job as a hairdresser!
- Hairdresser Schools, Certification, and Training
- Hairdresser Licensing
- Professional Associations
- Social and Networking Groups