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.

Working Life

Beauticians provide personal beauty care treatment for their clients, concentrating mainly on the face, hands and feet.  
 
The first thing a beautician does is talk to their client about what they want from the treatment. This will include both how they look and how they feel about themselves. The beautician uses their knowledge of the different types of treatment available.  
 
Beauticians do a lot of facial work - applying face packs, creams and lotions to cleanse and tone the skin, massaging the face to stimulate blood circulation and exercise facial muscles.  
 
Sometimes the client wants facial hair removed. For this the beautician uses heated wax or, with more training, special electrical equipment. Waxing consists of applying the warm substance to the prepared area, allowing it to cool and then removing it, either by stripping, peeling or rubbing it away. Electrolysis is a method of removing hair permanently - the therapist inserts a fine needle into each hair follicle and switches on a low electric current. This destroys the hair root and prevents further growth.  
 
Beauticians also pluck and shape eyebrows, tint eyelashes and apply make-up to enhance facial features. Sometimes they use cosmetic camouflage techniques to cover skin blemishes.  
 
Beauticians do manicure (hand care) and pedicure (foot care). Depending on what the client wants and needs, the beautician files and shapes their nails, removes hardened skin, applies creams, massages the hands and feet and applies nail polish.  
 
Some beauticians also train in hairdressing or special types of treatments in order to extend the range of their services.

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.

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.

The training involves periods of work experience at a beauty salon and covers subjects such as facial massage, skin and nail care and waxing techniques.  

Private college courses vary in length and content, and lead to a number of different qualifications such as the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology's (CIBTAC). Beautician's Diploma or the Comite International d'Esthetiques et de Cosmetologie (CIDESCO) Beautician Certificate. You should check the cost and the degree of recognition given to the qualifications before deciding where to study.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: beauty, retail, ITEC, CIBTAC.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: beauty, therapy.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Hairdressing.

Search for Apprenticeships

Skillnets Image Training & Network Support  

Local Enterprise Offices  Enterprise & business development mentoring support 

Partnership Enterprise Development Support Enterprise & business development mentoring support 

HABIC Hair & beauty association of Ireland.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €43k

Salaries vary by employer, role, duties, location, and experience. Earning may be greater if in private practice.

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Payscale/ Talent/ Jobted

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Hairdressers; Barbers; colourists (hairdressing); hair stylists; beauty therapists; nail technicians.

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. 

• CIDESCO - Accredited Beauty Schools in Ireland

  • (066) 718 5776
  • [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

• Cosmetics Assoc of Ireland

  • 43 SHANGLAS ROAD WHITEHALL DUBLIN 9
  • (0)87 2324898
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here