A barber apprentice is someone who is essentially learning the trade of barbering. A barber, also called a stylist, is a professional who cuts and styles hair. The barber apprentice will receive on-the-job training from more experienced stylists or barbers in order to better learn the craft, and he or she will be paid during this time. The length of the apprenticeship varies, but candidates should expect to work as an apprentice for one to four years.
Barber apprentices have a variety of responsibilities. Some barbers only cut hair, while others cut and style hair, shave, wax eyebrows, shampoo and wash hair, and even color, perm, or do manicures. The role of a barber apprentice has changed significantly over the years as the trade has evolved. Many barbers still only do cuts and styles, with a few other services like shaves thrown in for good measure. In many parts of the world, hairstylists have surpassed barbers in popularity, and they provide a wider range of services than barbers.
A barber apprentice must first complete some training from a beauty school, barber school, or vocational school, regardless of the services offered. This training enables a potential barber to learn how to properly cut hair as well as perform a variety of other tasks while on the job. Some of the training focuses on sanitation and keeping a clean workspace, and some schools may even offer communications and customer interaction training. Business courses that guide a potential barber in terms of opening and running a business are less common, though many schools offer them separately from barber training and are worthwhile classes for any barber considering starting his or her own business.
After completing the training, the graduate can look for an apprenticeship in a barbershop or salon. The barber apprentice will begin by observing more experienced barbers and performing simple tasks like cleaning and running a register. With time, the barber apprentice will have more opportunities to cut and style hair, as well as perform any of the other more complex tasks that a barber might encounter on a daily basis. All of the apprentice’s cutting will be done under the direct supervision and guidance of a more experienced barber during the apprenticeship.