Hairstylists and Barbers

Nature of work

Hairstylists and barbers cut and style hair and perform related services. They work for hairstyling or hairdressing salons, barber shops, vocational schools, health care institutions and theatre, film and television companies.

Job duties

Hairstylists:

• Suggest hair style compatible with client's physical features or determine style from client's instructions and preferences.
• Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm, and style hair.
• Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to colour, frost, or streak hair.
• Analyze hair and scalp condition and provide basic treatment or advice on beauty care treatments for scalp and hair.
• Clean and style wigs and hair pieces.
• Apply hair extensions.
• May shampoo and rinse hair.
• May perform receptionist duties and order supplies.
• May judge in competitions.
• May train or supervise other hairstylists, hairstylist apprentices and helpers.

Barbers:

• Cut and trim hair according to client's instructions or preferences.
• Shave and trim beards and moustaches.
• May shampoo hair and provide other hair treatment like waving, straightening, and tinting and may also provide scalp conditioning massages.
• May book appointments and order supplies.
• May train and supervise other barbers and barber apprentices.

Sample job titles

• barber
• beauty salon operator
• black beauty culture hair innovator
• hair colour technician
• hair-care specialist
• hairdresser
• hairstylist
• natural hair care practitioner
• wig stylist

Skills

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well with others
• Self-motivation
• Coordination
• Manual dexterity
• Stamina
• Colour vision and depth perception
• Ability to follow directions
• To be successful workers must incorporate technical and interpersonal skills
• Respect, professionalism, tact, discretion, and creativity are important personal qualities

Job requirements

Hairstylists

• Some high school education is required.
• A two- or three-year hairstyling apprenticeship program or completion of a college or other program in hairstyling combined with on-the-job training is usually required.
• Several years of experience may replace formal education and training.
• Employers may require applicants to provide a hairstyling demonstration before being hired.
• Trade Qualifier: Master Hairstylist Certificate/Licence issued by the Cosmetology Association of Nova Scotia.
• Certification for hairstylists is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Barbers

• Some high school education is required.
• A two-year apprenticeship or other barber program is usually required.
• On-the-job training may be substituted for formal education.
• A licence is required to use the job title Barber in Nova Scotia.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is also available to barbers, as qualified hairstylists.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Black Beauty Culture Hair Innovator

• Some high school education is required.
• Training through an 1,800-hour apprenticeship program with one apprenticeship level: to become an apprentice you first need to have a job - enter an apprenticeship agreement either directly through an employer or after graduating from a college-level pre-apprenticeship program; learn on the job, mentored by a certified journeyperson who signs off on skills in a logbook.
• Trade Qualifier option, 2,700 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for black beauty culture hair innovators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.

Other considerations

• Barbers cut hair, shave and trim beards, and carry out related services.
• Black beauty culture hair innovators analyze client’s hair and scalp, style with braids, locs, and twists, and incorporate extensions, weaves, hairpieces, and wigs. Services may also include incidental cutting, straightening, curling, and hair drying. Natural hair care services do not include the use of chemicals.
• Hairstylists shampoo, cut, style, and chemically treat hair.
• The work is indoors in a clean environment with good lighting and comfortable temperatures. Hairstylists work with chemicals that may irritate skin and have strong odours.
• They may need to work evenings or weekends. Part-time or flexible work hours are more common than other occupations. Self-employment is also common.
• Physical considerations are long periods of standing, posture fatigue, and repetitive motion.
• Workers may be compensated through salary, commission, a combination of salary and commission, or by chair rental agreements.
• Earnings are often supplemented by tips. An individual’s income will likely depend on their ability to attract and retain a group of clients.
• Workers own most of their tools and must keep them sanitized, disinfected, and maintained.
• A hairstylist may specialize in areas like cutting, hair additions, chemical services, ethnic-specific services, and gender-spectrum services.
• Most barbers work in barbershops and hairstylists work in beauty salons.
• Experienced hairstylists and barbers can advance to managing a shop or owning their own. They can become a salesperson for a salon or barber equipment and supplies vendor. Hairstylists can also become estheticians or nail technicians.

Regulations

Contacts

There are no additional resources for this occupation.