As a hair-stylist, you’re the first line of defense for combating bad hair days. Your job description can include services such as:
- Advice on styling
- Haircuts, coloring, and highlights
- Blow-drying
- Hair washing
- Keratin treatments
- Special occasion styling
Depending on your experience, you may also have to do some administrative duties, clean up the hair that fell around your chair, sanitize your tools, and order supplies.
Hairstylist Education
Hairstylists go through a cosmetology program where they learn all the tips, tricks, and secrets of the trade so they can beautify their clients. If becoming a hairstylist is what you’re looking to do, then you will need to:
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
- Apply for and complete a cosmetology program, which can last between 9 months to two years.
- Make sure whatever program you decide on is accredited. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take the state boards and practice your chosen profession.
- Once you complete the training program, take and pass your State’s licensing exam.
Then, get a job! In many instances, you’ll work as a sort of apprentice for a couple years before getting your own chair. You may have learned a lot in school, but there’s still quite a bit more to go.
There are some professional certifications you can get, such as hair color or extensions. Many manufacturers and professional organizations offer variations of these certifications, so do some research and find ones that best suit your expertise.
How Much Money Do Hair-stylists Make?
In 2022 the mean pay for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $38,910.
“The median hourly wage for barbers was $14.41 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.79, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.60.” – Barbers, Hairstylists, Cosmetologists on BLS
This is a profession where experience and clientele really matters. Many hair-stylists say that with tips their income can actually double. Once you really make a name for yourself, and you have a regularly scheduled clientele roster, you can earn $45,000 or more, before adding the tips.
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