Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

Hairdressers, also known as stylists, typically work in hair salons, although freelancing and mobile hair salons are becoming increasingly popular.

Hairdressing involves shampooing, conditioning, cutting, styling, blow-drying and setting hair. Hairdressers may also perm, colour and bleach hair, or diagnose problems with the hair and scalp and suggest suitable treatments. A key part of the hair stylist's role is to talk to their client to find out what they would like to have done to their hair.   

Men's hairdressers or barbers, also trim beards and moustaches. Some specialist hairdressers fit wigs. Hairdressers also advise customers about styling products and may be required to carry out reception duties in the salon. Hairdressers, especially trainees, are also required to sweep the floor, launder towels and sterilise the styling implements used in the salon.  

In a small salon, stylists may do all these tasks on their own. In larger salons, where there are several members of staff, a trainee or a junior stylist may assist the more senior hairdressers.    

Hairdressers need to be aware of new trends in hairdressing, new styles, techniques and treatments. Qualified hairdressers are responsible for their own clients. Hairdressing is a very sociable job. The stylist aims to establish a good relationship with clients in order to maintain their business and build up a strong client base. They need to be skilled in the various tasks and techniques involved in cutting, perming or colouring a client’s hair. Many products are used in the hairdressing business, some of which contain chemicals. Hairdressers need to understand the effect that these can have on the clients' hair.    

Mobile hairdressing businesses and freelancing have become popular in recent years, where the stylist goes to peoples' homes (e.g. for brides on the morning of their wedding), or to hospitals and residential care institutions. In fact, as long as you have your scissors and your comb, and are skilled in using them, you can work pretty much anywhere, from a nursing home, to a cruise liner.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Keep work stations clean and sanitise tools, such as scissors and combs.
• Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
• Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and rasors.
• Schedule client appointments.
• Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
• Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
• Analyse patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
• Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
• Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
• Order, display, and maintain supplies.

Further Information

• Hairdresser - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Hairdresser - from: YouTube [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Apprenticeship Route

The official entry route for a Hairdresser is through undertaking an apprenticeship.

Click here to find information on the Hairdressing apprenticeship

There are different routes available to a career in hairdressing in Ireland:

FET Centre Traineeship Hairdressing City & Guilds Level 2/ VTCT Search our FET coursefinder

FET Centre Post leaving Cert Hairdressing, Hairdressing & Barbering, Hairdressing - Junior Stylist, Hairdressing (Pre-Apprenticeship), Hairdressing with Makeup Applications at NFQ level 5 & 6 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

Hairdressing Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search apprenticeships

Entry requirements: 

• B2+ Cambridge level of English.

• Major QQI level 4 Major Award or equivalent.

Or

• Two years full-time experience working in a hair salon.

Professional Development & Associations

Image skillnet 

HABIC Hair & Beauty Association 

Local enterprise

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €45k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. Hairdressers in self employment may earn increasing salaries based depending on client base and charge rates. 

Data Source(s):
PayScale/ Indeed/ jobted/ Talent

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

There was a large increase in numbers employed for hairdressers and beauticians between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 5,700 persons employed; as such, numbers employed returned to preCOVID-19 levels. The majority of persons employed were female, with half working part-time. The share of non-Irish citizens, at 22%, was slightly above the national average of 19%.

Vacancies advertised through DSP Jobs Ireland were primarily for roles including spa/beauty therapists, hair stylists and barbers. There was a relatively high volume of jobseekers registered with DSP in December 2022 who were previously employed as hairdressers, beauticians or related occupations. Future demand for hairdressers and beauticians is likely to be linked to consumer behaviour, given the increased cost of living. 

• Irish Hairdresser's Federation

  • Seskin South, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny
  • (056) 8833808
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (HABIC)

  • HABIC The Enterprise Centre The Hill Road, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, N41 Y1F6
  • 07196 15 200
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here