Did you know that people who work in the hair, beauty and holistic therapies industries are some of the happiest workers in the entire UK, with the most job satisfaction? We take  a look at hairdressing  and hairstyling careers  and course ideas  to inspire you…

According to one particular brand of haircare products – there’s more to life than hair, but it’s a good place to start! We couldn’t agree more. If you’re a creative and sociable person, you might not have considered that hairdressing or styling might be a suitable course idea for you. But it’s not just about building a salon career from a young age – hairdressing and specialist hairstyling are skills that can be learned at any age, and adapted to suit many needs.
You could add hairdressing and styling skills to your repertoire, then use them for a variety of purposes: styling for yourself, your friends, to make extra money by specialising, to add value to your existing skills in areas such as make-up and beauty techniques, or to completely change careers and work in a salon. The direction you take depends on your age, ambitions and what you want from your course. New techniques emerge all the time, so it’s important for novices and professionals alike to keep their industry skills up to date.

Salon work
If you are keen to embark on hairdressing as a career, whether you are straight out of school or looking to switch careers, then an NVQ qualification or apprenticeship is probably the best route to take. Hairdressing isn’t well paid to start with, you’ll need to be a people person and you must expect to spend long hours on your feet, but the rewards are numerous. For successful stylists, there are plenty of opportunities to travel and work abroad, and potential earnings can be high for the top 10 per cent of hairdressers and stylists.

To work as a hairdresser or stylist, you’ll need a basic qualification and salon experience first and foremost. You’ll learn about cutting and colouring different types of hair, ladies’ hairdressing, gents’ barbering and styling techniques. Once qualified, it’s essential to keep your skills portfolio fresh with short courses in the latest trends such as the Japanese hair straightening system.

Styling short courses
People training to work in the beauty industry might also consider doing short courses in hairdressing or styling – make-up artists are often required to style a model’s hair and the ability to create a complete look for a client can give you the upper hand if you intend to freelance. For styling purposes, you can often choose from a range of courses including basic, vintage and bridal hairstyling, hairstyling for fashion and theatre and afro hair techniques.

Whether you want to add a new specialism to your existing skills, take a short course for fun or for business reasons, or just want to know how to beautify friends and family, there’s plenty of inspiration on this site.

Q&A: Top Stylist
Name: Nicole Jackson
Salon: Taylor Taylor London

Q. What’s the first thing you learned?  
How to communicate and care for the client. The ability to communicate properly and build a rapport with your client is key to relaxing them, making them feel at ease while achieving your own goals at work.

Q. What inspires you?
I have a lifelong passion for modern culture, whether it is art, fashion, music or people, and enjoy finding out about different design movements and how they affect my industry. I particularly enjoy visiting events where I not only take away great inspiration for my own work, but also meet individuals with similar interests who give great insight into design and culture.

Q. How would you describe your own personal style?
Soft rebellion!
 
Q What do you find challenging in your job?
The biggest challenges are the targets and goals I give myself. I always want to achieve more and better myself.

Q. What elements of your work give you the most pleasure?
Meeting, creating and styling new people. I learn so much from so many talented people at Taylor Taylor London on a daily basis.

Q. What advice would you have to give other people interested in hairdressing?
Do it. It’s not for everyone, but it’s an amazing industry to be in. Apply to work on a Saturday, the busiest day, and see what you think. It’s hard work but the rewards are definitely worth it.

Q. What’s an average day at work like for you?
I cycle through Shoreditch every morning and arrive at our flagship salon on Commercial Street at 10am. Every time I get to work I smile because I feel so lucky to work in such a beautiful salon with such amazing and talented people. I then see what appointments I have. It’s a busy salon, so every day is a good day! I usually work through my lunch break, but I prefer that as you get the buzz and don’t want to stop!

Q&A: Freelance Vintage Hairstylist
Name: Amy Taylor
Website: www.flamingoamy.co.uk

Q. What prompted you to get into vintage hairstyling?
I developed a liking for the fashions of the first half of the 20th century in my early twenties, the 1940s being my favourite decade. This led me to attend weekenders for people who shared my interest. I did my own hair for these events, and at one a friend asked me to do her hair, too. I said, ‘Why not? I’ll give it go!’ and found I enjoyed it and had a knack for it. Then another friend told me of an opportunity to train at a vintage hair salon in London. I went for an interview, began training and before too long became a stylist there. Since then, I have relocated to Norwich.  

Q. Do you have any styling training OR qualifications?
Apart from training at the London salon, no, but I’m about to complete an NVQ Level 2 in Hairdressing. I decided to do this to gain a better understanding of hairdressing. It made me more knowledgeable and confident.

Q. Why the 1940s and 1950s styles?
I am fascinated by how grooming and hair were so important to women then. It was time consuming, and in some instances uncomfortable, but people wanted to look their best. I also create hairstyles from other periods, going back as far as the Georgian period.

Q. How do you define your look?
I don’t like putting myself in a category because I like to mix and match decades. I’d say my day-to-day look stems from 1950s rockabilly fashions: quiff, ponytail and jeans. The beehive is another favorite, the bigger the better!

Q. Do you think that women have lost the art of looking glamorous?
Some have! Women have lost the time to spend on their appearance, and I think it’s almost seen as a crime to look smart if you are not at a formal event.

Q. Describe an average day at Flint Hair
As I’m freelance, all my days look very different: I can be styling at an event, a photoshoot or a wedding or creating styles in the salon. It’s this variety that I love, and I also love the way we all work as a team at Flint. I get to collaborate with the haircutters and colour technicians to create an overall look for clients.

Q. What’s the best thing about your job?
When someone is so happy and just can’t believe it’s them! This feeling is priceless, just making a difference to someone’s confidence is fantastic.

Q. What’s the worst thing that’s happened while styling someone’s hair?
The worst thing that can happen is for a client to choose a style totally unsuited to their hair type, style and length and expect a miracle.

Q. Is there a quick way to achieve vintage glamour?
Oooh, tricky question! I’d say research the look thoroughly, studying clothes, hair and make-up. That said, I am a fan of mixing and matching different eras. If you have confidence and your look balances, you will look great.  

Q. What other creative outlets do you have?
I came to Norwich to study at the Art School, and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, so art and craft have always been a part of my life. I love baking, dabble in dressmaking and have an appreciation for art and photography.  

Q What advice would you give to anyone interested in getting into the hairstyling industry?
Be enthusiastic, passionate and prepared to work hard, it’s a competitive industry, but don’t let that put you off! Be creative, network, try to offer something different and, of course, have fun!   

Q What’s your personal style motto?
Good hair changes everything.


Q&A: Hairdressing Student
We asked 19-year-old Adam Csoka, who’s studying Hairdressing Level 3 at Kensington and Chelsea College,  what it’s like to learn the skills required to enter the industry…

Q. What made you want to study hairdressing?
When I was young, my mum took me with her to the hairdresser and I would watch her hair being cut and styled. I thought it was creative and beautiful and it inspired me to take it up. My dad wanted me to be a manager or a lawyer, but I was determined to follow my instinct. He is proud of me now he has seen what I can do.

Q. What’s the first thing you learned?
The first thing was cutting hair! I tried to cut a friend’s hair and, even though it was a disaster, I kept trying. I learnt a lot of skills by myself before enrolling at a hairdressing academy in Slovakia. But that wasn’t enough for me, so I came to London to enrol on a Level 1 course at Kensington and Chelsea College.

Q. What inspires you?
Being naturally creative, I am inspired by everything. I could see a dog on the street and that would inspire a style!

Q. How would you describe your style?
It’s very modern. I don’t do classic and love being avant garde. Half the fun is in pushing the boundaries and developing your own style.

Q. What’s the most challenging thing about your course?
Colouring and the techniques behind it. Working with chemicals means you need to be careful. It is also challenging to find a client’s own personal style.  The course at Kensington and Chelsea College is brilliant and we have great tutors to guide us. It feels more like you’re part of a family than a college.  

Q. What have you achieved?
My biggest achievements so far are gaining my Level 2 qualification and successfully working towards my Level 3 at the college. I’m also proud that I’ve been accepted onto a HE course at the London College of Fashion. Learning to cope with being away from my family has also been an achievement.

Q. How will you approach getting a job in the industry?
Once I’ve qualified after my HE course, I will try everything I can to work with photographers in the fashion industry.

Q. What’s your long-term goal?
I don’t want my own business or to work in a salon. I want to be a successful part of the fashion industry, styling models on the catwalk and celebs on fashion shoots. I know it’s a hard industry to crack but I am very determined. I won’t be satisfied until I have achieved my dream.

Q. What advice would you give to people interested in hairdressing?
Stay focused and determined. Hairdressing and fashion are very competitive industries, so you have to be prepared to work hard. I’d advise people to be sure of what they want to do before enrolling on a course. Hairdressing has to be your hobby and your job. You have to love it and, if you do, it’s a brilliant industry to work in.

Adam studies at Kensington and Chelsea College’s Wornington Campus, in Wornington Road, London W10 5QQ.

The college salon is the training ground for hair and beauty students, providing them with experience of working in a fully functioning salon with paying clients. Students are taught by tutors who have industry experience or are specialists in their field. For more information, visit www.kcc.ac.uk/hairdressing-and-beauty-therapy or call 020 7573 5333.

Get your hair cut for less
The Hair and Beauty Training Salons at KCC offer a full range of treatments at purse-friendly prices. Your hair will be cut and coloured by fully supervised students undergoing NVQ study. As the students are learning under supervision, treatments may take a little longer than those in commercial salons, but the prices are worth shouting about. Get a cut for £10! Creative colouring costs from £15.
    
Telephone: 020 7573 5306        
Email: hairandbeauty@kcc.ac.uk