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

Fashion stylists work for individuals, fashion houses and clothing brands. Their main responsibilities include providing fashion advice; choosing and co-ordinating outfits for models in photo shoots or actors in television and film; and choosing props and accessories to prepare them for shoots.

Fashion Stylists are often part of a larger creative team assembled by the client, collaborating with the fashion designer, photographer/director, hair stylist and makeup artist to put together a particular look or theme for the specific project.  

As a Fashion Stylist your work will involve keeping on top of the latest fashion trends and styles. Work can vary from styling and co-ordinating photo shoots to working one on one with a client styling them with clothes, shoes and accessories.

Work will involve liaising with fashion designers and retailers and providing advice on photographic approaches and locations. 

Fashion Stylists may also be tasked with dressing mannequins for retail store displays or assist store customers with choosing clothing and accessories to complement their body type and lifestyle.

Employment opportunities are vast for Stylists and they can work in the following areas: 

Editorial Styling: involves conceptualising and organising the photo shoots for the pages in fashion magasines and other media publications. This may also involve selecting items to appear in fashion product pages for magasines and writing articles on personal style, fashion trends etc. 

Video/Commercial Styling: involves styling models or actors/actresses for advertising commercials, film clips, industrial and educational videos. This could involve anything from selecting the wardrobe items to coordinating the shoot - selecting the location, models, makeup artists and even the photographer.

Television: involves styling actors, talent, live broadcasts, news and current affairs, breakfast television, soaps as well as styling show hosts and visiting talent.

Wardrobe Styling: involves working on film, television, concert or theatre productions, (sometimes under the direction of the Costume Designer), developing the look and/or selecting the wardrobe items for the actors/actresses, musicians/performers, dancers or television personalities (i.e. newsreaders).

Show styling: involves organising events and fashion parades. This could involve public speaking/comparing, working backstage at fashion parades, selecting models, organising the running order, selecting garments and/or accessories, selecting the venue, developing the event concept, dealing with the media, photographers, and PR companies.

Corporate Styling: involves advising companies on their corporate uniforms, providing talks/seminars to staff on personal appearance, in-house magasine publications and more, styling company executives and/or styling annual reports.

Personal shopping: involves selecting clothes for a client.

Runway styling: involves styling for fashion parades Catalogue styling: involves working with designers or businesses on developing promotional materials such as product catalogues.

Retail fashion styling: involves styling retail customers in-store. Prop and set styling: involves finding and buying the props that surround the products featured in print advertisements.

Photo Styling - involves styling any photo shoot and includes editorial styling, commercial styling and catalogue styling.

Merchandise Styling: involves creating displays of products in retail stores or for photo shoots.

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

• Fashion stylist- from: GradIreland

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.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Most fashion stylist/designers enter the industry after a degree or diploma in Beauty/Fashion Design. Most design courses give students the chance to specialise in a selected fashion area, such as menswear or leisurewear.    

3rd level courses are typically 3-4 years. Alternative entry routes are possible for very talented individuals, whether by producing and selling your own work or pursuing an entry level position at a fashion house, such as an apprenticeship, but you will be competing with graduates of Fashion Design courses for these positions.

There are many entry routes into beauty, textile craft design. However, most take formal training courses up to diploma or degree level.

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, digital marketing, customer service, manufacturing, quality, management, start your own business.

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, marketing, art portfolio prep, craft, fashion, styling, visual merchandising, textile design, art, creative textiles.

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: Sales, Hairdressing.

Search for Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: applied art, design in fashion, creative fabrics, interior, textile design.

Applicants for craft and design courses are usually required to submit a portfolio of work via CAO.

Search for CAO Courses

Developing your craft business increasingly involves skills in digital media marketing. Building your brand and showcasing your work are key.

Design & Crafts Council Business & guidance support 

Local Enterprise Offices Business mentoring 

Local Partnership Enterprise Business development 

Design Skillnet Network CPD and support.

Image Skillnet

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €51k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, duties, role, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Eirieri/ DEASP

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. 

• 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

• Design & Craft Council of Ireland

  • Castle Yard, Kilkenny
  • (056) 77 61804
  • Click Here