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Over the years I have heard all the jokes – that hairdressers don’t know the meaning of hard work, that we sit around talking all day about the weather and holidays and drinking coffee. The reality is quite the opposite – a lot of people don’t see the real hard work that is required, standing for most of the day and often having very short lunch breaks, having to eat quickly or in between clients.

You will find that many people think hairdressers are unintelligent, but you will soon realize that hairdressing is not only a highly-trained skill, but a profession, as well. It might only take two to three years to become fully qualified, but it takes many years of experience to become a real professional. In this sense it is a little like learning to drive – qualifying doesn’t take long, but the more practice you get, the better you become and, in the case of hairdressing, the better your reputation will be. Hairdressing might not require the same intelligence as for becoming a doctor or a lawyer, but it is still a profession that requires skills in maths, science, language, communication skills and art, not to mention common sense.

If you are thinking about a career in hairdressing, be warned that the hours are often long and the pay is not brilliant to start with. Having said that, however, the rewards increase as you progress if you own a business or are just really great at what you do, as people will pay a lot of money for good hairstyling. Tips can be an excellent bonus of the job and are common, and the majority of managers offer commission incentives to their staff. These can earn you good money, although you have to work hard for it.

Perhaps the hardest part of hairdressing is the customer service. Dealing with the public in most jobs is demanding, but physically changing the way someone looks is particularly risky. It is also surprisingly hard to talk to people all day; people with whom you often have nothing in common. The reason hairdressers often talk about the weather or holidays is not because they are dull – it’s just sometimes the easiest way to open up a conversation with someone you know nothing about. And it works – people tell you all sorts of things when they are comfortable with you, and you can often lend a sympathetic ear as part of the service.

You are constantly being educated in hairdressing, and gaining a qualification alone is not enough. Styles, fashions and techniques change rapidly, with new technology and new ways to cut or do technical things such as colouring. It is vital, therefore, to keep educating yourself with new courses and product knowledge.

In summary, hairdressing can be as exciting or as boring as you make it. If you’re motivated and inspired you will learn much and go far, and can earn a good living from it. If you just want to plod along then that’s fine too, if less rewarding. The huge advantage of a skill such as hairdressing is that it goes with you anywhere you go, and is a skill that requires very little but a pair of scissors and a comb as the bare essentials.

Georgina Fowler

“ The very best hairdressers have passion for their job, and without it you won’t last long.”