A Career in Hairdressing

A Career in Hairdressing is a highly skilled profession. Not only will you gain a skill for life but you could find yourself entering a profession where you could own your own business.

Hairdressing is a global industry. In this increasingly image conscious world the opportunities available in these professions are endless. Never have there been so many exciting possibilities at the cutting edge of the fashion, style and grooming business. Successful hairdressers can take their pick from many top jobs - preparing supermodels, working on magazines and photos shoots, or tending to the rich and famous. What’s more, with UK hairdressing and rightly regarded as the best in the world, there is ample opportunity to travel internationally and show off your skills abroad.

However, a career in hairdressing isn’t just about glamour. It requires hard work and dedication. It is a professional career with a clear progression route from salon trainee to owner or manager. The hours are long and sometimes unsociable, but the rewards more than make up for it. After all, how many jobs give you the chance to be creative and try out new things each and every day?

Qualifications to Train In Hairdressing

No specific subject qualifications are needed, but GCSEs in English, Science and Maths are strongly recommended. Employers also look for other qualities such as:

- Communication and people skills
- Stamina
- Patience
- Enthusiasm
- Reliability

Modern Apprenticeships in Hairdressing

One of the main ways into hairdressing is through a Modern Apprenticeship. These qualifications are aimed at highly skilled young people between 16 and 24, and combine the best of traditional training routes with the best of modern training systems.

Modern Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to train for a career, study for a qualification and work in salon and get paid - all at the same time. An Advanced Modern Apprenticeship leads to NVQ Level 3, whilst Foundation Modern Apprenticeships lead to NVQ Level 2.

The acceptable qualification for hairdressing is NVQ Level 2, though the majority of employers now expect staff to have Level 3.

Alternatively you can go to college to obtain your hairdressing qualifications, however if looking to work in a salon once qualified, you may find this route more difficult, as some salons train and develop their own teams from the start and want to develop those trained within their own salon environment.

Once qualified, there are a number of options open to you, and you may decide to work in one of the following areas:

- In a Salon
- Salon Management
- Teaching (Lecturer/Trainer/Assessor)
- Television and Film Industry
- Health Clubs and Resorts
- Consultancy
- Armed Forces
- Company Training
- Cruise Liners
- Freelancing
- Hotels, Airlines and Airports
- Hospitals/Care Homes
- Her Majesty’s Prison Service

Hairdressers can also specialise. For instance, once you have your hairdressing qualification, you may go and get a colour degree, specialise in wedding hair, concentrate on Barbering/men’s hairdressing, or even become a platform artist.

So, if you are looking for a rewarding and diverse career that can bring you not just the glamour and excitement, but the real rewards of hard work and dedication, then perhaps hairdressing is for you.

For more information contact: info@mackhairdressing.co.uk