Becoming a hair stylist means you’ve committed to making people feel good about themselves – but how do you get those people through your door? Aside from your top notch skills, a hair stylist portfolio is your golden ticket to attracting clientele. A dynamite hair portfolio can properly display your talents, whether you’re looking to snag a job at your local salon or use it to launch your own business. 

Keep reading to explore our guide on how to make a portfolio for hair stylists, plus the benefits of creating one, helpful tips, and some answers to frequently asked questions. 

What Is a Hair Stylist Portfolio?

A hair stylist portfolio is a collection of images and videos that serve as a showcase for your skills, abilities, and creativity. Your hair portfolio can provide quality samples of how you dye, cut, and style, giving clients an idea of how you can meet their needs. Most portfolios these days exist digitally, whether on your website or linked through your social media. Some professionals may even choose to use their business social media page as a constantly-updating hair stylist portfolio. 

2 Reasons Why Your Hair Stylist Portfolio Matters

Your hair stylist portfolio can make a huge difference in how people view you as a professional. Two main benefits of putting together a portfolio include: 

It serves as a resume

A portfolio for hair stylists works as a resume of sorts – it shows prospective employers your skills and work history, allowing them to see whether your particular skill set would be a match for their business. It can also help you land jobs for projects or events if they require your particular abilities. 

It attracts clients

Your portfolio is also your most important marketing tool. When you build a website or social media page for your business, your hair portfolio will be what attracts new clients. If you’re a wiz at taking dark shades to platinum or cutting sleek bobs, you’ll want to showcase your diverse talents to maximize your range of clientele. 

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How to Make a Hair Stylist Portfolio in 5 Steps

Professional portfolios are the key to growing your business and getting new customers into your chairs. Read on for a guide on how to make a portfolio for hair stylists: 

1. Select a platform

Choose the software that will help you compile your portfolio. Applications like GlossGenius or Canva offer templates that can aid in your graphic design efforts and help you craft a stunning, organized portfolio. 

2. Write your bio

Your portfolio should contain a short bio or blurb about your professional journey. Where you got your start, how much experience you have, your inspirations – anything that gives people a taste of who you are both as a person and a professional. Personality can help attract clients, so ensure you’ve included enough detail to charm readers, without so much information that it feels like a novel. 

3. Choose the right photos

Portfolios shouldn’t include every single photo of all the styling you’ve done. Rather, you should focus on selecting photos that showcase a diverse set of skills. Even if you have a particular specialty like pixie cuts or working with curly hair, it’s best to show that you’re able to work with a number of different hair textures, lengths, and face shapes in order to appeal to a broader range of clientele. (However, feel free to specifically highlight the work you think sells you best, just as long as you have other examples too!)

Use high-quality photos with good lighting and minimal background distractions so viewers can get a clear, detailed look at your styling work. You can also upload a few videos of you in action or even offer a brief tutorial, such as trimming your own bangs or braiding. 

4. Include before and afters

Showing the contrast between the client’s initial look and what you were able to do for them is a great way to demonstrate the power of your talent. Before and after photos of your dyeing, cutting, and styling skills can help potential clients visualize themselves and what their transformation might look like by your skilled hands. If possible, try to include a variety of looks on different clients to show your versatility.

5. Link to your website and social media

If your portfolio is hosted on a separate site than your business website, be sure to include links to help visitors easily navigate from page to page. You’ll also want to link to your social media so the full scope of your abilities is readily available for anyone interested in learning more about your style. 

GlossGenius’ Booking Website Builder can help you create a stunning, custom portfolio that wows clients and boosts your brand.

5 Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Hair Stylist Portfolio

Putting together your most impressive photos is only one part of creating a portfolio – it’s what you do with it after that can increase its impact. Below are some tips for making the most out of your hair stylist portfolio: 

1. Add client testimonials

Reviews from satisfied customers can build a sense of trust, establishing your credibility and showing potential clients you’re worthy of their dollars. An impressive portfolio can only do so much – people want to see that there’s a stellar reputation to go along with it. Hair can be extremely personal for some, so knowing there’s a professional out there who can cater to their needs in a way that other people can’t wait to write about can do a lot in encouraging them toward your business. 

2. Share your portfolio

Make sure that you’re sharing your portfolio publicly online and using any social media reach you have to spread your brand. While it’s good to include plenty of photos on your business social media pages, linking to an actual portfolio will give viewers a chance to see your work in a more organized and digestible way. 

3. Leverage your portfolio

Use your portfolio to easily present your experience and expertise to other beauty professionals, whether at trade shows, conferences, panels, or other networking events. Having a standout portfolio ready to present at any moment can also demonstrate your ambition and commitment to your craft. 

4. Update your portfolio

Updating your portfolio regularly (at least once every few months) will keep your work fresh and interesting, especially to those who take a long time to decide who to trust with their hair. Regular updates will also show that you’re busy and in-demand, which can increase your desirability amongst clientele as well.

5. Include other relevant information

If your hair portfolio functions as your whole business website, you’ll need to include other information like contact details (where you’re located, phone number, and email), hours of operation, and how to book appointments. You should also add any licenses, certifications, or awards you’ve earned to further bolster your expertise. 

Level Up Your Hair Stylist Portfolio with GlossGenius

A complete and updated hair stylist portfolio can attract attention to your business and give you the boost you need. With detailed photos, supportive reviews, and an enchanting blurb about your professional vision, you can impress prospective clients and lead them straight to your chair. 

GlossGenius is an all-in-one platform that functions as your own personal assistant. Fill your books and sync your appointments with Scheduling and Calendar, then process and track those transactions with our Point of Sale features. Client Management provides insight and analytics such as client retention rates and average sales value per client, while Client Notifications can send automated reminders to make sure your clients never miss their appointments. 

FAQs

Whatʼs the best way to organize my portfolio?

There’s no one best way to organize a portfolio, but if you can’t decide on a layout, try grouping by categories. For instance, if you provide keratin treatments or other chemical relaxers, those would have their own section separate from your event styling work or dye jobs. Categorizing your experience can make it easier for potential clients to peruse your offerings and see if you’re the right fit for what they’re looking for. 

Whatʼs the ideal length for a hair stylist portfolio?

Hair stylist portfolios typically contain between 10 and 20 photos, though depending on how you organize it, you may choose to include more like 25-30. Too many photos can cause scrolling fatigue, overwhelm visitors, or slow down your portfolio load times, all of which can turn people away from your business. Ultimately, it’s really a matter of quality over quantity, so 7-10 photos of your very best work may also be enough.

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