Hairdressers help people to look and feel their best. They may be asked to curl, wave, perm, bleach, tint or dye a customer’s hair, or merely to cut and style it.
Overview
Each appointment begins with a consultation with the customer, to find out what they want done to their hair and offer potential options. They may suggest a hairstyle compatible with the client’s physical features, or determine the best style from the client’s instructions and preferences. To complete the appointment, hairdressers advise patrons on how to care for their hair, discuss any problems and recommend appropriate hygiene and styling practices. Before starting on the next customer, they always clean and sanitize their hairdressing equipment. As styles continually change and evolve, hairdressers must also continue to upgrade and learn new skills to keep up with new trends, products and styles. This training may involve travelling to attend conventions and hair shows, or taking short courses at private styling schools
Typical Duties
Hairstylists perform some or all of the following duties:
Suggest hair style compatible with client’s physical features or determine style from client’s instructions and preferences
Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm and style hair
Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to colour, frost or streak hair
Analyze hair and scalp condition and provide basic treatment or advice on beauty care treatments for scalp and hair
Clean and style wigs and hair pieces
Apply hair extensions
May shampoo and rinse hair
May perform receptionist duties and order supplies
May judge in competitions
May train or supervise other hairstylists, hairstylist apprentices and helpers.
Jobs and Careers
Sample Job Titles
Scalp treatment specialist
Wig maker
Aesthetician
Hairdresser
Companies and Sectors
Salons
Self-employed
Training schools
Hair replacement clinics
Retail environments
Entertainment industry
Education and Training
HOW TO JOIN THE FIELD
Some secondary school education is required.
Completion of a two- or three-year hairstyling apprenticeship program or completion of a college or other program in hairstyling combined with on-the-job training is usually required.
Several years of experience may replace formal education and training.
Employers may require applicants to provide a hairstyling demonstration before being hired.
There are various provincial/territorial certification and licensing requirements for hairstylists, ranging from trade certification to licensing by a provincial/territorial association. Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available for qualified hairstylists
INDIGENOUS AND REMOTE CONSIDERATIONS
Although there is a need for these services in Indigenous and remote communities, many communities do not have salons where such services are available. Someone who wishes to study this may be looking at opening their own business in order to do this work or else relocating to a more urban centre where they could work for a salon.
Available space to open a salon may also be a challenge, although a home based business may be doable, with the stylist travelling to provide services in customers’ homes or offering services in his/her home. *Please note it is important to get all the proper licensing and certifications to run a business, even from your home.
DISABILITY CONSIDERATIONS
This job generally requires the person to stand in one place for long periods of time and may be difficult for someone with a physical disability to perform.
This job requires a fairly high level of social and emotional skills as you are dealing with the public and people are vulnerable when you are changing their appearance. It may not be suitable for people whose disabilities affect their social skills
Competition Resources
2023 Territorial Competition Contest Description _Secondary & Post-Secondary
2023 National Competition Contest Description_Secondary
2023 National Competition Contest Description_Post Secondary
Projects