Think again about a career in hairdressing
There is money to be made in the £4.6bn hairdressing industry
Hairdressing has changed a lot in the past 10 years. Gone are the days when you spent all day in the salon cutting hair. In 2024 it’s a hugely exciting and rewarding career, where you can own your own business, go independent as a freelancer, work in fashion as a session stylist, specialise in colour or education or work alongside other creatives in TV, film, music and theatre. Or all of the above!
People wrongly assume that hairdressing is a low-pay career. That, too, has changed. Not only do UK consumers spend a staggering £4.6bn* in UK salons and barber shops annually, a swing towards self-employment has meant many stylists are now building their own brands, juggling clients with creative projects and landing lucrative roles as brand ambassadors in their own right – a six-figure salary by the age of 30 is not uncommon.
Hair salons have a better five-year survival rate than most other high street businesses**
*National Hair & Beauty Federation
**Office for National Statistics
Not ‘Just’ A Hairdresser
We created our Not ‘Just’ A Hairdresser campaign to allow you to step inside the hairdressing industry, meet some of the people, hear about the different jobs they do and see the places they work. We think you’ll be surprised. Take a look…
Meet the hairdressers
Discover the career stories of twelve different hair professionals
Press play,
be inspired
Forget the latest Netflix show, binge watch our Not ‘Just’ A Hairdresser series right here!
Join
hairdressing
Ready to get going? We have a list of salons looking for hairdressing apprentices right now!
Let’s Create!
Ready on set!
Session stylists are hairdressers that work on photoshoots, which could be for a magazine story, brand or advertising campaign, on set for TV, film and stage, backstage at fashion shows and with high-profile names for red carpet appearances, press junkets and music videos. Join session stylist and Afro hair specialist, Michelle Sultan, as she gives a glimpse into life working on set.
Hair On The 'Gram
Barber, mentor, award-winner and author, Mark Maciver has Stormzy and Anthony Joshua as clients and once earned £5,000 for a 45-minute haircut
Jay Birmingham is the go-to hairdresser for names like Maya Jama, Rochelle Humes and Munroe Bergdorf.
JLo’s mane man, Chris also counts Kim K, Dua Lipa and Katy Perry as clients.
A colourist and educator who likes to break the rules, Grace’s IG channel will blow your mind.
Free Careers Pack
