A hairstylist, also known as a hairdresser, is a person who styles and cuts hair. He or she may also provide additional services such as hair coloring and extensions. This profession offers a wide range of opportunities, from high-powered salons catering to the rich and famous to corner barbershops offering basic haircuts at low prices. Depending on where a hairstylist works, he or she may be required to obtain a cosmetology license from a certifying organization in order to demonstrate that he or she has completed basic training requirements.
Hairdressers are part of a long-standing profession. Hair has been styled for thousands of years, and hairdressers have been part of the personal retinues of many monarchs and prominent figures since Greek and Roman times. Modern hairstylists, like their ancient counterparts, keep up with hair fashions, popular trends, and new hair cutting and styling techniques.
A good hairstylist has excellent fashion sense as well as a keen eye for looks that will look good on a particular client. He or she can use a variety of techniques to cut and texture hair to achieve the desired look, and if desired, a hairstylist can also add color to the cut. Some people hire hairstylists to do their hair for special occasions such as weddings and balls, relying on the hairstylist’s experience and skills to achieve a sleek, fashionable look.
A hairstylist may choose to specialize in a particular area of hairdressing. Some hairstylists, for example, specialize in hair coloring; coloring is extremely complex, and it is easy for a dye job to go wrong, so a professional colorist’s services are frequently in high demand. Others specialize in ethnic hair and have received specialized training to address the unique needs of people with different hair types. Some salons use only natural products or provide additional cosmetology services such as nails, makeup, and facials in addition to hairstyling.
Because many people require the services of a hairstylist on a regular basis, employment prospects in this field are generally favorable. Compensation rates differ greatly. Many hair salons rent chairs to their stylists, allowing them to set their own rates and take in as many clients as they want in exchange for a monthly fee. Others pay their stylists the hour or the client, and some hairstylists prefer to work alone, despite the high start-up costs of a salon.
If you want to be a hairstylist, you should enroll in a cosmetology school that provides training. The school will assist you in meeting your licensure training requirements, and the faculty frequently assists students with state-mandated cosmetology tests; some schools also provide placement assistance to recent graduates.