Occupation
Hairstylist
Hairstylists cut, colour, and style hair in salons or as self-employed chair renters. They consult each client on what will suit them, carry out cutting and chemical services safely, and keep tools and workstations sanitised between clients.
Also known as: Hairdresser · Hair stylist · Salon stylist · Cosmetologist
Occupation content
Part of Retail, sales and customer experience
What the work involves
- Consult with clients on shape, colour, hair condition, and home care
- Shampoo, cut, and blow-dry to an agreed style
- Mix and apply colour, lightener, and chemical treatments with patch and strand tests
- Sanitise tools, basins, and workstations between clients
- Manage a booking diary and take payment
- Recommend and sell retail hair-care products
How people commonly enter
- Apprenticeship with a salon leading to a certificate of qualification where the trade is designated
- Hairdressing or cosmetology program at a college or private training school
- Licensing examination set by the local regulator where one applies
- Entry as a salon assistant or shampoo technician with progression into training
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Pathways: Apprenticeship route
Typical work context
Public facing · Physically active · Works independently · Varied work · Shift work
Related interests
Artistic (creative) · Social (helping) · Realistic (hands-on)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Retail, sales and customer experience.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists · United States
Link checked
- O*NET OnLine — Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (39-5012.00) · International
Link checked
- Red Seal Program (Employment and Social Development Canada) — designated trades · Canada
Link checked
Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Retail, sales and customer experience in Canada, not a figure for Hairstylist. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Retail, sales and customer experience family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Retail, sales and customer experience: education pathways
Some roles in Retail, sales and customer experience may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Retail, sales and customer experience: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)