How to Change Careers and Become a Hairstylist in 2022

Are you growing tired of your current profession and looking for a change? Pursuing a career in hairstyling is a viable option for those seeking to occupy an exciting and ever-evolving industry. You can control your hours, and there are many options to further your career while continuously meeting new people, making this a sought-after career.

Create a Strong Resume

To stand out from the crowd and secure the hairdressing job of your dreams, you must create a resume reflecting your training and experience. To guarantee that your resume is professional, we advise that you use a template. ResumeHelp has a free template specifically for those applying for hair stylist jobs, so make use of it! They also have resume builders and cover letter examples if you want to go the extra mile in your application.

Some hairstyling skills you should include on your resume are:

• Customer service
• Active listening
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Patience
• Selling ability
• Problem-solving
• Technical skills (cutting, coloring, styling, etc.)

Official Training

As you will have noticed, technical skills and training are required to become a hairdresser. So, the first step to changing your career path is participating in a state-certified training program. If you don’t have a college degree, don’t worry, as a degree is not necessary for becoming a hairstylist. However, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent. Many high schools now offer cosmetology and hairdressing courses.

Alternatively, you can look into training with a cosmetology program from an official beauty school. For example, if you are located in Washington State, you can attend the Evergreen Beauty College, which has the highest-rated cosmetology school in the area!

In a cosmetology program, you will learn about skincare, makeup, and nail artistry alongside hairstyling. During the program, you will also be required to do training and have to spend a certain number of hours doing supervised practice before getting your license. You would usually do this practice through your program, or you can opt for an internship or an apprenticeship.

You will begin your supervised practice by doing services such as shampooing, which may initially seem tedious. Still, you will gain soft skills needed to become a great hairstylist, such as communication and customer service. You will also see what day-to-day life is like in a salon and the importance of working as a team.

Gaining your certificate doesn’t mean that your journey in training ends here. Hairstylists must attend training programs throughout their careers to keep up with current trends, and continuously develop their craft!

Job Application

Once you have your license and resume ready, you will be prepared to apply for salon jobs! You will have gained experience with shampooing and simple salon procedures during your cosmetology training, so you will be ready to take on the duties of a professional hairstylist.

Each salon will have different requirements and a unique team dynamic, so paying attention to what your hiring manager is looking for is essential. Many salon hair stylist job descriptions include these duties;

• Welcome customers and ensure they are comfortable
• Be able to recommend hair products, styles, and treatments to clients
• Ability to wash, cut, and color hair
• Clean work stations and salon
• Handle payments
• Consistently research the latest hairstyles products to stay on top of trends

Employment

Eventually, you will land a job in a salon and be able to call yourself a working hairstylist! From here, your career can take you in many different lanes, from working on photoshoots to helping a bride achieve her dream hairstyle on her wedding day. So, embrace the opportunities that hairstyling brings your way and enjoy this wonderful industry!

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