Hairdressing Courses

Enrolling in a hairdressing course is a key step to becoming a professional hairdresser. You’ll be trained with professional skills and theories, so you can provide better hairdressing services to your customers. Learning hairdressing the professional way gives you the advantage of getting employed in established brands and increases your credibility. So, if you’re unsure whether to study the course, let’s talk about what the program covers to help in your decision-making.   

What Is Hairdressing?

Hairdressing is a technique to cut, color, and style hair in different textures, lengths, and types. It’s a method that hairdressers use to keep people’s images. Hairdressers also use various tools and equipment to achieve the desired look a customer wants. These tools range from basic to advanced, such as shears, hairbrushes, curling irons, section clips, steaming machines, and blowers. The ultimate goal of hairdressing is to make clients feel good about themselves by styling their hair.   

What Is a Hairdresser?

Hairdressers are skilled professionals who cut, color, and style different types of hair. They are trained in different techniques to make hair look stylish. A hairdresser is also expected to provide consultations to understand what customers want with their hair and provide suggestions that best fit their hair situations.   

What Do You Learn in a Hairdressing Course?

Hairdressing courses are different in many places depending on the subjects covered and the provider. Some are designed for beginners, while others teach more advanced programs. But to give you an idea of what to expect from the course, here are the common skills taught:

Haircutting

Haircutting is the most basic skill a hairdresser learns. It teaches you the different techniques to cut and trim hair for men and women. It also lets you learn the best haircut that suits a specific face shape. You’ll also know how to use hair cutting tools, such as clippers, shears, and razors. Some courses teach advanced techniques for hair cutting, such as personalized detailing.       

Hair Coloring

Hair coloring is focused on the techniques and theories about dyeing hair. You’ll be trained to provide proper advice to customers on which color suits them best and in situations where they don’t really need to dye their hair. You’ll learn the products and chemicals used in hair dyes and how to properly mix them to achieve the desired shade. Highlights and lowlights are also taught in this subject as well as correcting hair colors. Advanced courses may teach you professional techniques to design hair with colors. 

Straightening and Permanent Waves

Customers who wish to create a better “shape” with their hair usually go for straightening or permanent waves. This is why you’ll be trained to perform these advanced hairdressing techniques. You’ll be dealing with mostly chemicals to straighten and provide permanent waves for the hair. This subject also teaches you to evaluate which products are more suited to a specific hair type. 

Hairstyling

For customers who attend special occasions, hairstyling and makeup applications are usually done. The hairstyling subject teaches you the different hairstyles fit for various occasions, like proms and weddings. You’ll also be taught to match hairstyles with dresses and makeup looks.

Chemical Hair Removal

If hairdressing involves putting chemicals on the hair, it also includes removing them. This subject focuses on treating the hair and scalp from chemical exposure caused by the products used for different hairdressing services. The hair and scalp are usually treated with nutrient-rich products that help restore their healthy state.

Tool and Equipment Sterilization and Sanitation

Cleanliness is equally important as the other subjects covered in a hairdressing course. It ensures that you prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms in the facility. It also protects the customers and staff from any infection that may potentially develop.

Sanitation involves using the proper cleaning products to get rid of germs, bacteria, or viruses. It also discusses the proper storage of tools and equipment and the right methods of cleaning each tool.  

Customer Care

It’s always expected that you assist your customers from consultations to aftercare. You should suggest the best haircut, hair color, or even hairstyle to each customer. Not only that, you must learn to listen to your customers on how they want to look and why they want to improve their appearances. 

Products and chemicals are commonly asked from you, and it’s your job to make customers understand how they work and their benefits. It’s also essential to provide expert tips on how to maintain their hair after being treated to prolong the treatment’s effectiveness.     

What Are the Different Ways to Study Hairdressing?

There are multiple methods to learn hairdressing, be it professionally or on your own. However, it’s always recommended to choose the professional way of learning because you’ll be getting a certificate or license. But to give you an idea of how you can learn hairdressing, here are the ways:

On-Campus Learning

On-campus learning is probably the most preferred way to study hairdressing. You’ll be learning a hairdressing course provided by a vocational school or community college. It’s like studying the traditional way by going to school. You’ll be expected to do hands-on activities and undergo an internship, depending on the structure of the program.

In-Salon Classes

This is common for beauty brands offering hairdressing courses. The learning setup is usually in-salon where you’ll be able to observe what professional hairdressers do daily. Your hands-on training also involves serving real customers in salons. This option might be a little bit more expensive than the other methods, but it’s worth your money.

Short Classes

Short classes are ideal if you want to focus on a single subject of the course, such as haircutting or hair coloring. The length of the course may only take one day or a few days, depending on the program structure. Be ready to do hands-on training as many courses require this to complete the program.

Online Courses

This method is common nowadays because people can learn hairdressing anywhere in the world. Classes are performed via a video call, and you’ll be given modules as your guide for the course. Most online courses offer part- or full-time learning to fit many students’ lifestyles. It’s also important to choose a course where the provider is near you because many of these online programs require hands-on activities in their facilities.

Video Tutorials

Self-learning is always available online, and one common way to do this is by watching video tutorials. Many professional hairdressers are creating their channels and posting step-by-step processes online. YouTube is a very popular platform for this. You can subscribe to multiple channels and watch tutorial videos. The only downside to this is you won’t get any certification after watching videos.

Blogs

Blogs are also a popular method of learning the step-by-step processes for hairdressing. Many professional hairdressers are also making their own blogs to help readers learn hairdressing. You can also follow these blogs to keep you updated with their current postings. Like video tutorials, you won’t get any certificate for learning hairdressing through blogs.   

What Prerequisites Are There to Study Hairdressing?

Hairdressing prerequisites vary by region or country. Some have stricter requirements, while others have more lenient qualifications or are not regulated at all. That’s why it’s important to check with your local government for requirements about professional hairdressing. 

Places with stricter qualifications may include age limits (at least 16 or 17 years old) and a high school diploma or any equivalent academic certification. Other requirements vary, which can include registration fees and other similar expenses and screening tests. 

What Accreditations Can You Get by Doing Hairdressing Courses?

Like the prerequisites, accreditations for hairdressing vary by place. Areas with stricter requirements may provide you with better accreditations than regions with lenient qualifications. These places may give you a certificate after finishing a hairdressing course. This allows you to take the licensure examination for cosmetology.

Once you pass the examination, you’ll gain a license for it. This serves as solid proof that you’ve undergone proper training for hairdressing. You’ll also increase your chance of working in established beauty brands that may require a license for cosmetology. 

Some courses also make you a member of an accredited group for hairdressers once you’re certified. This can be locally or internationally. Becoming a member of organizations like this improves your connections with other professional hairdressers, which also increases your chance of getting a better job opportunity.    

What Will All of This Cost?

The cost of studying a hairdressing course depends on the location, provider, and program structure. But on average, the tuition fee for the course is around $10,000 (USD), and this doesn’t include the costs for textbooks, kits, and other hairdressing supplies. The additional fees can be around $10,000-$20,000. 

The good thing about studying specialized courses is that some governments offer scholarships or financial aid to qualified students. It’s a way for them to help citizens who are struggling financially to go to college. So, it’s helpful to check with your local government if they have this educational assistance.   

What Will You Be Able to Do at the End of a Hairdressing Course?

Finishing a hairdressing course gives you the privilege to either work in salons or take the cosmetology licensure examination. For places with lenient qualifications or not regulated about working as a professional hairdresser, you can definitely look for a job already. 

It’s also a great idea to gain experience first before applying in salons as many businesses are looking at your portfolio. You can do home service for people in your community to gain experience.    

For countries with stricter requirements, you may need to take and pass the cosmetology licensure examination. This gives you the advantage of applying to established brands and getting hired. It also increases your credibility, which helps if you’re planning to start your own hair salon business.

How Do I Find the Best Hairdressing Course?

Finding the best hairdressing program primarily depends on what you want to learn and your lifestyle. It’s beneficial to enroll in a course that offers flexibility with the schedule, so learning hairdressing is more convenient for you. But to help you get the perfect fit, here are the factors to consider:

Program Structure

Always look at the structure of the course when finding the perfect hairdressing program for you. You’ll see what subjects are covered and evaluate if what they are offering is what you want to learn. It’s also helpful to know if the course provides part- or full-time learning because you can always choose the former option if you have limited hours to spend on learning. 

Course Provider

The brand or school that offers the hairdressing course matters as well. If they are reputable, you’ll be at ease that you’ll get quality training and that they are worth your money. You can do a background check and know who they are. You can also read reviews about the provider or school and know what people say about them.

Aside from that, the location of the course provider is also important. Even if you’re taking an online course, you must be near the school or facility that offers the program. Many courses require students to perform hands-on activities on-campus or in the facility.

Further Assistance

Some courses don’t only teach you the theories, skills, and areas of study for hairdressing but also provide further assistance. For example, a program provider helps you land a job more efficiently by endorsing you to salons or spas. They have active contacts to many established businesses that they can reach out to for endorsement of graduates. Other courses also provide you with contact information for many salons and spas, so you can reach out to them for employment. 

Accreditations and Benefits

What accreditations can you get from a specific course provider? It’s important to know what accreditations they can offer you to help boost your portfolio. Aside from a certificate, some providers make you a member of their accredited organization for beauty professionals. You may also enjoy discounts on beauty products if you’re a member of a specific organization.

Learn Hairdressing Today!

With the information about the hairdressing course, you’ll have a better understanding of what to expect from the program. What you need to do right now is to choose the best course for you. So, start searching for an ideal hairdressing course today, and learn the professional skills for this career!