As with any career, there are many trajectories that lead to success within the beauty industry – no matter which specialty you may choose to pursue. While there’s no exact formula or set of rules for how to become a successful professional these days, if you want to become a hairstylist, you can’t go wrong following a few basic steps for breaking into the biz.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to become a hair stylist with some invaluable insights from the experts in our GlossBoss community.

What Is a Hair Stylist & What Do They Do?

A hair stylist is a person who specializes in cutting, coloring, and styling hair. They work with people to create and keep hairstyles that make them look good and match their personal style. Hair stylists are good at many different techniques, like cutting hair, coloring it, braiding it, and putting in hair extensions. They stay up-to-date with the newest trends and styles to give their clients the best services.

Hair stylists can focus on different areas, and each one has its own good and bad points:

Color Specialist: Focuses on hair coloring techniques, from simple highlights to hard color fixes.

• Pros: Lots of people want skilled colorists – can be creative.
• Cons: Needs to keep learning to stay on top of trends – can take a long time and be very detailed.

Extensions Specialist: Specializes in putting in and taking care of hair extensions.

• Pros: Growing market – clients willing to pay more for good extensions.
• Cons: Needs a lot of money for training and supplies – can be tiring.

Celebrity and Editorial Stylist: Works with famous clients or on photo shoots and fashion shows.

• Pros: Chance to work with celebrities and on exciting projects – can earn a lot of money and be well-known.
• Cons: Unusual hours and high-stress situations – needs a strong portfolio and connections in the industry.

To become a hair stylist, you need to choose the specialty that matches your passion and career goals, understand the challenges that come with it, and keep improving your skills to do well in the competitive beauty industry.

6 Steps To Becoming A Top Hair Stylist

Here are six steps for how to become a hair stylist:

1. Do Your Homework
2. Immerse Yourself In The Industry
3. Get Your License At An Accredited Beauty School
4. Start With An Apprenticeship
5. Be Ready To Hustle
6. Prepare To Get Behind The Chair

Okay, let’s dive deeper into each one.

1. Do Your Homework

Get into research mode and do some recon on the current state of the industry. Start by speaking to hairstylists in your neighborhood or networking online. You likely have your own favorite hair professional that you frequent, so start picking their brain to learn about their career journey thus far.

Online, there are also plenty of communities to join where you can chat with seasoned pros, ask questions, and read through the experiences of others (think Facebook groups, Reddit forums, or Twitter threads). For extra immersion, start searching for trade show tickets in your area where you can network and get familiar with the big brands and thought leaders in the styling sector.

2. Immerse Yourself in the Industry

Get as close to the industry as possible by landing a job in a local salon that doesn't require you to have a license. Prior to getting your certification, you can enter the beauty workforce as a salon receptionist to begin getting familiar with the salon environment. GlossGenius educator, Kendall Whitley, went this route, which was highlighted in our recent success story where she shares how she started and how she’s since built the business of her dreams.

3. Get Your License at an Accredited Beauty School

To become a working hairstylist, completion of a state-approved cosmetology program is necessary in order to become a licensed cosmetologist and obtain a hairdresser’s license from your state's Board of Cosmetology Examiners. Many board websites will list the state-licensed cosmetology schools in their area making this a good starting point to select a school that will no doubt get you the accreditation required.

Before enrolling in a training program, pull together a list of questions, like these examples below, that will help you qualify which program is the best fit for you.

• Is this a full-time or part-time program?
• Does the school offer a variety of specialties?
• Will you be able to practice on real clients instead of just wigs?
• What is the total cost of the program and is financial aid available?
• Is the school accredited?
• Does the school have a continuing education program?
• Will they help you with job placement after graduation?
• Does the school focus on a specific brand of products?

To get started, check out some of these top beauty schools with locations across the country:

• Aveda Institutes
• Paul Mitchell Schools
• Sassoon Academy
• Empire Beauty Schools

4. Start With an Apprenticeship

After becoming a licensed hair stylist, you’ll want to start looking for an opportunity to apprentice in a salon, and if you’re already working as a receptionist, you’ll have your foot in the door. In this industry, it’s important to walk before you crawl and crawl before you run. “When you get out of school and you have your license, a lot of girls I found, think that they should just go right into their chair,” says Marissa King in a recent community spotlight where she shared a range of advice on how to become a hair stylist.

“Don't go right into it... Become an assistant at a salon that you like that has successful stylists there. You need to be extremely humble.” As much as you’re likely excited to get started as a hair stylist, take your time to thoroughly observe and gain hair styling experience as an assistant first.

5. Be Ready to Hustle

Once you’re feeling confident in your skills as a new stylist, you’ll want to mentally prepare for the hustle of making a name for yourself in the area. “Always [have] a stack of business cards with you,” King advises.

“On your day off, going wherever you go, commenting on somebody's hair, giving them your card…  just non-stop.” In the early days of your career, there are no days off when you’re building a name for yourself. Not to say you shouldn’t have any work-life balance, but you should be prepared to put in the hours and the effort to build a strong foundation for your future as a professional hair stylist. “That's the biggest thing,” King says. “If you're not prepared to hustle and be motivated all the time, even when you have other crap going on, it's not going to be an easy road for you.”

6. Prepare to Get Behind the Chair

Now that you’ve got the license, the skills, and the clients under your belt, you may start thinking about going fully independent. When you're ready to venture out on your own, one of the most daunting tasks may be finding a place to call your home away from home.

Whether you’re looking for a salon suite to rent or are planning to launch your own salon, be sure to do your homework and take note of everything you want (or don't want) in a physical space before signing on the dotted line. If you're going the salon suite route, don’t sign a lease until you’ve done a deep dive into the interior, exterior, and details of the space. When opening your own salon, you’ll want to check off all of those boxes and more.

And when you do go independent as a hair stylist, always remember that GlossGenius has your back!

Average Hair Stylist Salary

A hair stylist's salary can be very different depending on a few things, like where they work, how many clients they have, and how long they've been working in the industry.

• Location: Hair stylists in big cities or places where it costs more to live usually earn more than those in small towns. For example, a stylist working in New York City might earn a lot more than one working in a small town because there are more people who want their services and they can charge more.
• Client Base: Having a lot of loyal clients can make a big difference in how much a stylist earns. Stylists who work with famous clients or have a good reputation in their community can charge more for their services.
• Years of Experience: Just like many jobs, how long you've been working matters when it comes to salary. Stylists who are just starting out might earn less, but as they get better at their job and gain more experience, they can earn more money.

On average, hair stylists in the United States can expect to earn between $25,000 and $50,000 per year. But this can be different, with really good stylists and those with special skills, like celebrity stylists or extension specialists, possibly earning a lot more. Some sources say that experienced stylists in places where there's a high demand can earn more than $70,000 per year or even more.

Understanding these differences can help people who want to become hair stylists have realistic expectations about their salary and come up with ways to earn as much as possible in the beauty industry.

Boost Your Journey with GlossGenius

Becoming a hair stylist requires dedication and hard work, but with the right steps, it is possible to build a successful career in the beauty industry. Whether you’re getting your cosmetology license, going hair school, or completing an apprenticeship, the journey involves immersing yourself in cutting hair, hair coloring, braiding, and other hair design techniques. In some states, you don’t even need a high school diploma or GED to get started.

Once you meet the licensing requirements and gain experience, you’ll be prepared to take the next step in your career. This could involve working with barbers, focusing on hair extensions, or even going independent. GlossGenius can help new hair stylists and salon owners manage and optimize their businesses with a suite of powerful tools. From scheduling and client management to marketing and financial tracking, GlossGenius provides everything you need to succeed in the beauty industry.

Take control of your future and streamline your path to success with GlossGenius. Try GlossGenius today and explore how it can transform your hairstyling career.