Are you looking to discover how you can specialize in men’s hair styling? We have put together a guide to help you better understand the steps you need to take to qualify as a men’s hair stylist, complete with training and resume advice!
First though, to land yourself a job in any area, it is fundamental that you have a professional resume that highlights all your relevant experiences and skills that make you a fit for the role. Using a resume template is a great way to ensure your resume ticks all the boxes. A hair styling resume example, courtesy of ResumeHelp, follows a professional structure and is free to use! They also have cover letter templates available if you want to take your job applications to the next level.
Training
You must undergo a state-certified cosmetologist program or attend Barber College before considering applying for a men’s hair stylist position. This is to ensure you have a full understanding of the trade, from hair cutting and washing to shaving and hot towel treatments.
If you go down the cosmetology route, you will learn more than just men’s hair, but also receive training on women’s hair, makeup application, skincare, and nail artistry. To pursue a cosmetology program, you can check out beauty schools such as Evergreen Beauty College. If you prefer to concentrate solely on men’s hair styling, you can attend a barbering school to obtain a barber license.
What It Takes
Once you have your license and have received sufficient training, you must meet the requirements that barbering consists of. Here are some of those requirements:
- Cutting/trimming/shaving hair
- Shaving/trimming the beard or mustache
- Giving facial and scalp massages with lotions, creams, and oils
- Styling hair with heat, straightening, and curling
- Cutting, measuring, and fitting wigs, hairpieces, and head caps
- Washing and shampooing hair
- Understanding ingredient listings and how to apply products such as powders, oils, antiseptics, and lotions to the face, scalp, and neck
- Coloring or bleaching the hair
Skills
Now that you have acquired all the technical skills and training to become a men’s hair stylist, it is now time to understand which soft skills will be required:
- Customer service
- Communication skills
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Creativity
- Understanding of pricing and products
Career Progression
Once you land your first job in a professional salon or barbershop, you will gain hands-on experience with clients, and your job will quickly become second nature to you. But, you can rest assured that pursuing a career in men’s hairstyling will never be boring, as there are several ways you can progress and enter different sectors of the hairstyling industry. Here are a few:
Entertainment industry
You can use your experience as a barber to progress into working in the entertainment industry. All the glamorous men of Hollywood have incredibly skilled barbers working on their hair, so there is always a demand for hair stylists in this area. To get here, you will need an extensive portfolio of work and further training to ensure you are ready to take on the world’s stage.
Teaching
You can go back to cosmetology school, but this time to teach others the craft you have spent years perfecting. This is rewarding and gives you the chance to learn from your students, as they will likely be keeping up with new trends and know whose hairstyle is all the rage right now!
Barbershop or salon owner
Why stop your success at just working in a salon or barbershop when you could own the place? Now, this will take years to get to this point. Still, once you have experienced managerial salon positions and fully mastered your craft, starting your own business and opening your own barbershop is completely viable! Reach for the stars.
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