Hair Stylist

Interested in doing people's hair? Do you enjoy working with a pair of scissors, mousses and gels? Eager and confident of making clients look and feel beautiful? And, do you have a passion for fashion and love meeting people? If you have an affirmative answer to these questions, dream on to become a top-notch hair-stylist. With the concept of beauty and wellness gaining widespread importance, hair cutting is not a casual affair. Hair styling job has evolved into a specialized art. The hair care industry in America is registering an astounding growth year after year.

American women and men spend roughly $23 billion on hair cut, $10.4 billion on hair coloring, $8.7 billion on perms or relaxers and $5.5 billion on purchasing retail hair care products. Hair care industry is very much a thriving market. But there aren't enough skilled, trained hairdressers around. There is no dearth of opportunities for competent hair stylists. It is possible to work full-time, part-time or as a mobile hairstylist.

Hair stylist skills

The passion for hairstyling begins with you, yourself. Your clients should feel encouraged to entrust their most precious possession - their hair. He/she may not believe in your ability to make them look good, if you don't. Hence, it is essential that you care and enjoy being neatly dressed, pleasant-looking with a trendy hairstyle.

• Plenty of patience
  
  
• Possess hair cutting instinct
  
  
• Interested in fashion and art
  
  
• Understand proportions
  
  
• Not prone to allergies
  
  
• Articulate and able to communicate well
  
  
• Have a passion for hair styling
  
  
• Have an eye for detail
  
  
• Comfortable working in close proximity
  
  
• Eager to surpass client expectations
  
  
• Have a strong sense of hygiene
  
  
• Possess creative flair
  
  
• Warm, friendly temperament to earn client loyalty
  
  
• Willingness and confidence to experiment
  
  
• Tolerance of chemicals part of hairstyling
  
  
• Physically fit, ability to stand for long hours.

Hair stylist course

For a rewarding hair stylist career, opt for a hair styling course from a reputed, accredited institution. The minimum qualification desired for enrollment into a hair styling course is completion of 16 years of age with a high school diploma, GED or its equivalent.

Initiate research by finding the different hairstyling schools/programs available, the schedule for registering a full-time or a part-time course. Take a look at the curriculum. Find if the course provide both theoretical and practical knowledge. Does it cover the techniques and skills required to style hair using appropriate materials and equipment?

Ideally, a hair styling course begins with teaching the basic fundamentals of hair science, styling and cutting. A step-by-step approach helps in creating a firm foundation and mastering the art of hair styling. The importance of shape, bone structure and suitability of hairstyles in accordance with one's personality and preference should be necessarily covered. The program should provide due emphasis on classic cuts and sharpen hairstyling techniques. On completion of the course, you will be well acquainted with the cuts, coloring, scalp problems, perming, straightening, bonding, highlighting, finishing and so on.

After completing a basic hairstyling course, you should be well prepared to work as an entry-level hair stylist. With skillful time management, as you grow on the job, proceed to specialize by selecting a part-time course in cutting, dressing, perming and coloring. It is advantageous to select a recognized certification course, which provides an opportunity to be trained by distinctive trainers and hairstyle specialists. You also get to work in a simulated salon environment under the supervision of the program instructors. There are hairstyling programs that provide necessary inputs and training required to own and operate a salon.

Hair stylist Career

Before you set out looking for hair stylist job, create a customized portfolio. This helps in introducing yourself to agencies and fashion companies.

You can start by working as an apprentice hair stylist, training for 1500 hours per year, for two years. The best way to find a position as a hairstyle apprentice is by directly applying to prospective employers or find a sponsor. Make use of the local telephone directory, newspaper or just walk into a hair salon. A certificate of apprenticeship will be provided to you on completing the hairstyle apprenticeship.

It is advantageous to be a unisex hairstylist rather than limiting to work only as a male hairstylist or a female hairstylist. You can gain work experience and enhance your skills working in hairdressing salons, barber shops, vocational schools, health care establishments and theatre, film and television establishments. Possible hair stylist job titles are:

• Barber
  
  
• Barber apprentice
  
  
• Hair color technician
  
  
• Hairdresser
  
  
• Hairdresser apprentice
  
  
• Hair stylist
  
  
• Hairstylist apprentice
  
  
• Wig stylist
  

Hair stylist beginners can expect an average starting earning of approximately $ 16,000 per annum. Advancement opportunities are aplenty. Gaining competence and experience, you can choose to work in larger shops, manage a hairstyle shop or teach in a hairdressing school. Self-employment is an attractive option, but only after considerable years of experience and exposure. Eventually you can own a hairstyle salon provided you could fund a start-up capital for the venture. Remember, this is one kind of a job, which earns more clientele through word of mouth. Your work speaks for you!