How to become a hairdresser or barber
Official title: Hairdressers and barbers
Also called: Barber, Hairdresser, Barber's assistant, Hairdresser's assistant, Art director, Hair dresser, Hair stylist, Hair designer, Style director, Junior stylist, Salon assistant, Hair technician
Hairdressers and barbers shampoo, cut, colour, style and treat hair.
Main tasks
- Discusses customer requirements, analyses hair condition and other relevant features to define and advise on hair style
- Washes, conditions, bleaches, tints or dyes hair and provides any necessary basic scalp treatments
- Cuts and trims hair using scissors, clippers, razor and comb
- Combs, brushes, blow-dries or sets wet hair in rollers to style or straighten
- Shaves and trims beards and moustaches
- Collects payment, arranges appointments and cleans and tidies salon
- Maintains client records and keeps up-to-date with new products, styles and techniques
- Ensures hair products are stored and used appropriately and observes relevant health and safety factors
How to become one
There are no minimum academic requirements for entry, although some colleges require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is provided Off and on-the-job and lasts up to three years leading to the awarding of NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 3 are also available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Advanced and creative hair professional (level 3). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0214.
- Apprenticeship (England): Hairdressing professional (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0213.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £24,279 a year The middle half earn £19,408 to £27,762.
- About 171,400 people work in this job now, and about 177,500 are projected by 2035. (+3.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a hairdresser or barber?
There are no minimum academic requirements for entry, although some colleges require candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is provided Off and on-the-job and lasts up to three years leading to the awarding of NVQs/SVQs at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 3 are also available.
How much does a hairdresser or barber earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £24,279 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £19,408 to £27,762.
Is a hairdresser or barber a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 171,400 to about 177,500 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a hairdresser or barber?
Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Advanced and creative hair professional (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03