How to become a Hairdresser

Duties & Tasks of a Hairdresser

Hairdressers:

• Talk to clients about their requirements
• Cut hair using clippers, scissors or razors
• Shampoo, condition and rinse hair
• Provide services such as colouring, bleaching, applying treatment, permanent waving (with chemical solutions), straightening and tinting
• Dry hair and style it using brushes, combs, straightening irons and other equipment
• Shave and trim beards and moustaches
• Advise clients on hair care
• Block (shape), clean, colour, adjust, curl and cut wigs and hairpieces
• Attend hairdressing seminars and training in order to keep up to date with new products and techniques
• Operate a cash register and computer
• Perform reception duties such as answering telephone calls and making appointments
• Sell retail products
• Maintain client records
• Clean the salon, work areas and equipment.

Tasks

• Shampooing hair and conditioning scalps
• Shaving and trimming beards and moustaches
• Providing advice on hair care, beauty products and hairstyles
• May clean, colour, cut and style wigs and hairpieces
• Styling hair into dreadlocks and braids and adding hair extensions
• Cutting hair with scissors, clippers and razors
• Arranging appointments and collecting payments
• Cleaning work areas and sanitising instruments
• Colouring, straightening and permanently waving hair with chemical solutions

Working conditions for a Hairdresser

Hairdressers may be employed in women's, men's or unisex salons. They spend most of the day on their feet and are usually required to work staggered shifts to fit in with salon business hours. They have a high level of public contact, so they need to be well presented.

Employment Opportunities for a Hairdresser

Most hairdressers are employed in hairdressing salons, usually working with four to six people. Some work in large department stores.Hairdressers may also be employed as stylists for television, film, theatre or advertising agencies.Those with good retail skills (selling products or additional treatments) are particularly in demand. Many hairdressers, after a number of years working in the industry, set up their own businesses, enter into partnerships or teach hairdressing.

Specializations

Hairdresser

Hairdressers cut, style, colour, straighten and permanently wave hair and provide clients with hair and scalp treatments. In most salons, the senior hairdressers and the more advanced apprentices cut and style hair. Apprentice hairdressers undertake routine tasks in the initial stages of employment, assisting senior hairdressers with preparing clients, shampooing, applying and removing simple hairdressing treatments, and sterilising and maintaining equipment. As apprentices gain experience they carry out more complex tasks under supervision.

• 

  Average age

  34 years

• 

  Future Growth

  Moderate

• 

  Gender Share

  85% female

• 

  Average full-time

  41 hours

• 

  Weekly Pay

  $1,025

• 

  Skill level rating

  Medium skill

• 

  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

• 

  Full-Time Share

  51% Full-Time

• 

  Employment Size

  66,700 workers

• 

  Employment by state

  ACT: 1.5%
  NSW: 30.8%
  NT: 0.6%
  QLD: 21.4%
  SA: 7.9%
  TAS: 2.4%
  VIC: 24.5%
  WA: 10.9%
  
• 

  Age brackets

  15-19: 7.9%
  20-24: 15.5%
  25-34: 27.9%
  35-44: 20.4%
  45-54: 17.8%
  55-59: 4.8%
  60-64: 3.1%
  65 and Over: 2.5%
  
• 

  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 6.8%
  Bachelor degree: 1.4%
  Below Year 10: 0%
  Certificate III/IV: 77.9%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.2%
  Year 10 and below: 4.9%
  Year 11: 2.2%
  Year 12: 6.5%
  Years 11 & 10: 7.2%