Hair Stylist Job Description

Hair stylists (also known as hairdressers), cut, style and dye hair based on their clients input. Hair stylists may make recommendations about home care and products to ensure the client maintains a certain look as well as healthy hair.

Typical Job Duties

• Hair stylists wash, trim, cut, colour and style hair and hairpieces

• Shave, trim, cut, shape and style facial hair for men

• Suggest suitable hairstyles for clients based on their style or facial features

• Suggest treatment for damaged hair

• Keep station clean and organized, as well as ensure sterilization and maintenance of all equipment

• May order supplies, pay bills and keep records

• May hire and supervise employees

How to Begin a Career as a Hair Stylist

A great first step to becoming a hair stylist is to attend a beauty school, or other school that has a beauty program. Approach your instructors or school’s career counselors, as they may be able to introduce you to work opportunities.

Upon graduating, contact hair and beauty salons that you would like to work for and inquire about any employment opportunities.

You may also consider opening your own salon, or operating a salon service out of your home. In order to do this, it is recommended that you prepare a business plan in order to help you determine the concrete steps you will take to get your business off the ground. A business plan is also a great way to attract potential investors or secure funding by other means, such as government grants.

Scholarships for Becoming a Hair Stylist

The Applicable Majors section below shows fields of study relevant to a career as a Hair Stylist. You can search for scholarships matched to those fields of study on our Fine Arts Scholarships page.

Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!