Finding your ideal job
within the hair industry

Whether you are a newly qualified hairdresser searching for a job or an experienced stylist looking for a new challenge within the industry - there are a great variety of options to choose from. Hairdressing as a profession, gives your career a flexibility that lets you travel, become self employed, work on your own or be part of an exciting design team. If you have the drive and enthusiasm to succeed, you can aspire to the highest levels in the art of hairdressing. Royston Blythe a regular contributor to our style gallery, has produced fabulous styles such as the one opposite - that is viewed thousands of times a month! Below are some of the roles you can choose from:

Suitable for: Newly qualified or leaving a salon to go it alone. A self employed mobile hairdresser will need all their own hair tools and wet products. A portable freestanding mirror and folding chair (as comfortable as your budget permits). Driving license/car. Advertising budget to get some calling cards and promotional leaflets made. You may want to combine mobile work with part time work in a salon, until you get established. Advantages: You can be your own boss, arrange appointments to suit ie: if you only want to work part time or work in a particular area on certain days. It's possible to build up a business servicing pensioners, rest homes and busy mum's trying to find some time for themselves. Disadvantages: It can take a while to put a

Suitable for: For any qualified stylist/ colourist who wants to work within a salon environment, whilst still retaining self employed status. You will pay a weekly or monthly rent for your salon chair. This normally includes a work station, all utility costs and shared use of reception /cashier/ appointment booking services. Individual salons will vary and you will need to check the small print. Sometimes the salon will charge a smaller rent and share the takings with the hairdresser. This can vary between 40% - 60%. Another variation is a combination of both - a smaller rent and a percentage of the takings.

You will need to consider the options carefully, to decide which one will work best for you.

Advantages: Some salons rent a chair for a specialist in colouring, extensions, pensioners etc - this can work well, as you are not competing for the same clientele as the other employees or other chairs. So it's worth finding out as much information as possible about the salon you applying to. Some salons rent a single chair and others have 100% of their premises as self employed occupation.

Disadvantages: You are responsible for paying your tax and insurance, so you will need to produce your own accounts or pay someone to do it for you. Because you are not employed by the salon, there is no contract of employment. However, you will receive a contract of service which is for a fixed period of time. It can cover from 1 to 3 years and usually includes a notice clause. Consider how long you want the agreement to run for before committing to it. This is an important document as it needs to specify the terms of the service being provided - to avoid any potential areas for disagreement if or when you decide to leave.

Suitable for: Fully qualified stylist/ colourist with a few years experience in a salon - ideally in a senior/manager role. "Kerching" This is what most hairdressers' dream of, owning their first salon and making a lot of money. With hard work and determination it can become a reality, but it pays to do research first, before you take the plunge. Assuming you've put the financing together to rent premises or buy an existing business or shop. It is vital that you choose the right location, with plenty of passing trade and parking available near by. If there are already one or more salons in the vicinity, it may be worth reconsidering where you set up your new salon. Getting good staff is

crucial; they can make or break a salon if they aren't trained to the correct standard or if there's any attitude problems.
Budget carefully to give the best impression when customers come in. Sourcing your fixtures and fittings from the right places can make the difference between a functional salon and one that gives the impression of luxury and customer care.

Advantages: Being your own boss is a great feeling - all those ideas and plans that have been taking shape can be put into action. Tread carefully though while you're finding your feet - the tried and tested business model that you're last boss insisted you should follow, will have been formed from his own experience and mistakes along the way - so it could hold valuable elements you need to consider for your salon. Successful salons that get the balance right can make a very good living, with some owners going on to open up more salons.

Disadvantages: As a self employed salon owner you will be responsible for paying your own tax and getting to grips with staff wages P.A.Y.E and National Insurance contributions. You will almost certainly be advised to use a competent book keeper to look after this side of things - so you can concentrate on promoting your business and making it successful. It can be a slow process gathering a regular customer base for a new salon, so be prepared for a drain on your resources in the first year or two after opening.

Suitable for: Qualified stylists/colourists with some experience of how a salon runs. Management training is recommended. Advantages: Some of the biggest names in the hair industry have franchisees running their salons ie: Saks, Toni & Guy, Rush and Hair Cuttery. The big advantage of a franchise is the perception of brand and the level of skill, expectation and general customer experience that has already been established.

Buying into a franchise network, is not just about getting the money together - you will be expected to meet the companies' high levels of excellence and may well have to undertake specific training to be accepted. Disadvantages: You will need to arrange finance to cover the Agreements and franchise fees - typically around £20,000 + VAT. Fees are normally pain in one instalment - a standard term would be ten years - management service fees can be 10% of gross turnover.

Suitable for: Anyone who wants to pursue a career in hairdressing and go travelling can have the best of both worlds. Working on a luxury cruise ship is a great way to use your hair stylist skills, whilst meeting lots of interesting people and seeing the world at the same time.



Advantages: There are many opportunities available to work onboard a ship, as the cruise lines are constantly updating their salon and beauty services. Pay can be good and wealthy travellers are often generous with their tips.
When a cruise liner weighs anchor and passengers go ashore for sightseeing tours - appointments in the salons fall off - so generally you should have time to sample the delights of the local scenery for yourself.
o Get a feel of life on the ocean waves, if you're interested in working on cruise liner salons, by looking through the services offered by the big ships www.ukcruises.com

Here are some samples of cruise line recruitment adverts:
SALON MANAGER (oversees entire operations of the beauty salon, accounting and management of the salon staff) - extensive beauty salon and managerial experience required. Salary range: £2400-3800 per month, depending on cruise lines.

ASSISTANT SALON MANAGER (manages the day to day operations of the beauty salon as directed by the salon manager) - beauty salon and managerial experience required. Salary range: £2000-2900 per month, depending on cruise lines.

HAIRSTYLISTS - extensive beauty salon experience required. Must have completed a three year hairdressing apprenticeship or full time training course at a certified college. In addition, applicants must be fully qualified in both ladies and men's hairdressing. It is also important that hairdressers can cope with both a busy column and a demanding clientele. Fluent English Language skills required. Salary range: £2200-2900 per month, depending on gratuities and cruise line.

Disadvantages: Some cruise lines work a commission only basis for salon staff and you will have to rely heavily on gratuities. The salons can be extremely busy, with 1,000 to over 4,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew. Special functions put extra demand on the salon and beauty services and shifts are sometimes very long.

Suitable for: Men and women who enjoy working with all aspects of male grooming. The options are the same as for salon work; you can work as part of a team, set up your own barber shop or travel on cruise ships. Barbering has come a long way from the basic short back and sides and close wet shave. Men take more trouble with their appearance and expect a lot of extra services at their local barbers shop. Professional hair cutting, hair styling, clipper cuts, beard trimming and shaving. Many barbers now offer a range of men's body care treatments such as tanning, waxing, facials, manicures etc

Advantages: There is probably less competition for barber shops on the high street than there is for hair salons. Generally men spend less time in a barbers chair than a salon chair, so it's possible to have a greater footfall in a barbers. Disadvantages: Same as hairdressing, if you are renting a chair or want a barbers of your own; you will be responsible for tax and National Insurance for yourself and any employees.

NVQs have four levels of achievement; they start with an introduction at Level 1, through the basic and essential skills required at Level 2, to the technical and supervisory skills at Level 3 and the manager at Level 4. On completion of these NVQ levels, hairdressers and barbers can progress to a Higher National Certificate or Diploma (HNC/HND) qualification or a foundation degree and higher degree level.

BsC (Honours) Salon Management
or
Foundation Degree Hairdressing Salon Management
Required for Management roles:
Education Manager, Inspectorate, Consultant, Salon Manager

Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/D) Hairdressing & Management
or Level 4 Management
Required for Management roles:
Salon Owner, Salon Training Manager, Lecturer, Session Hairdresser, Platform Artist and Reception Manager

Level 3 Hairdressing or Level 3 Barbering
Required for Senior roles:
Hairdressing Industry Sales & Marketing, Manufacturer Technician, Salon Trainer/ Assessor, TV & Film Hairdresser, Senior Salon Hairdresser, Freelance Hairdresser, Hospital/ Care homes hairdresser, Armed Forces Hairdresser/ Barber, Senior African Caribbean Hairdresser, Senior Barber, Salon Technician, Senior Receptionist, Cruise Liner Hairdresser and HM Prison Hairdresser.

Level 2 Hairdressing or Level 2 Barbering
Required for Junior roles:
Junior Hairdresser, Junior Receptionist, Junior Barber, Junior African Caribbean Hairdresser.

Level 1 Hairdressing or Level 1 Barbering
Required for Assistant roles:
Assistant Receptionist, Assistant African Caribbean Hairdresser, Assistant Barber, Assistant Hairdresser.

For more information about the contents of the different levels of hairdressing and barbering training see www.habia.org



List your salon /mobile/franchise/barbers in the UKHairdressers.com online directory. Potential clients looking for a salon etc in their area will see your salon name, address and phone number - listings are FREE. See Link

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Banner links Choose UKHairdressers.com banner link advertising, this gives your salon a listing in our directory with links to your email and/or website, plus your logo (or we will make one for you). See Banner links cost £49 + VAT per year.

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Featured salon listings Alternatively, you can have a full feature listing page of your own on UKHairdressers.com with all the features of the banner link, plus five images of your styles/ salon. Full details of your salon/ mobile/franchise services, special offers, staff, events, opening times and a blog section. to update as often as you like, by logging in with your own unique password. See link Featured salon listings cost £99 + VAT per year.

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Do you have a staff or chair vacancy in your salon/ franchise/ barbers? Use UKHairdressers.com "Salon Vacancy" section.

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