Hair Stylist Job Description
Hire a qualified hair stylist to deliver cutting, colouring and finishing services while building client relationships and contributing to salon retail and service targets.
What does a Hair Stylist professional do?
A hair stylist provides professional cutting, colouring and styling services to clients, offers product and aftercare advice, and helps grow a salon’s client base. Work patterns are typically shift-based, including evenings and weekends.
Hair Stylist job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Hair Stylist
About the role
[Salon name] is seeking a skilled Hair Stylist to join our team in [Location]. You will deliver consultations and hair services including cutting, colouring and styling, advise clients on aftercare and retail products, and maintain high standards of hygiene and service. This role is [full-time/part-time], [permanent/fixed-term], with a salary of [£salary or 'competitive'] plus tips/commission and staff benefits.
Key responsibilities
- Greet clients, conduct professional consultations and record preferences and contraindications.
- Provide hair services such as cutting, colouring, balayage/foiling, blow-drying and finishing techniques to the salon’s standards.
- Recommend and retail appropriate haircare and styling products; demonstrate product use and aftercare.
- Maintain treatment records, colour formulations and appointment notes accurately.
- Manage time and bookings to meet schedule and client expectations; minimise downtime between clients.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety and COSHH guidance for chemical services and salon hygiene.
- Keep the styling station and equipment clean and well maintained; participate in salon cleaning rotas.
- Support promotional activity, assist with visual merchandising and contribute to meeting sales/service targets.
Essential skills and experience
- Proven salon experience delivering cutting, colouring and styling services.
- Strong client-facing and communication skills with a professional manner.
- Competence with common colour and cutting techniques used by the salon.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Ability to work salon hours including regular evenings and weekends and to stand for extended periods.
- Basic knowledge of COSHH and salon health & safety practices.
Desirable
- Relevant hairdressing qualification or completed apprenticeship (e.g. NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent) or demonstrable salon experience.
- Advanced colour or specialist training (e.g. balayage, colour correction).
- Experience with client booking or POS systems and record-keeping.
- Retail and upselling experience with measurable results.
- Experience mentoring apprentices or junior stylists.
What we offer
- Basic salary plus commission/bonus structure (placeholder).
- Tips/shared gratuities (placeholder).
- Paid holiday entitlement (placeholder).
- Pension scheme (placeholder).
- Staff discount on services and retail products (placeholder).
- Ongoing training and development support (placeholder).
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Hair Stylist role?
A hair stylist performs technical and creative hair services—cutting, colouring and styling—for a salon’s clients. They consult with clients to identify desired outcomes, select suitable products and techniques, and deliver finished looks while keeping accurate records and following health and safety rules. Stylists often contribute to retail sales and help build a loyal client base through repeat bookings and excellent service.
Client-facing craft
Hands-on delivery of cuts, colours and styling with strong consultation skills and customer care.
Technical competence
Knowledge of cutting, colouring techniques, formulation and safe handling of chemical services.
Career progression
Pathways include senior stylist, colour specialist, salon manager or educator roles with further training.
Typical Hair Stylist responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Greet clients
Greet clients, conduct professional consultations and record preferences and contraindications.
Provide hair services such as cutting
Provide hair services such as cutting, colouring, balayage/foiling, blow-drying and finishing techniques to the salon’s standards.
Recommend
Recommend and retail appropriate haircare and styling products; demonstrate product use and aftercare.
Maintain treatment records
Maintain treatment records, colour formulations and appointment notes accurately.
Manage time
Manage time and bookings to meet schedule and client expectations; minimise downtime between clients.
Ensure compliance with health
Ensure compliance with health, safety and COSHH guidance for chemical services and salon hygiene.
Keep the styling station
Keep the styling station and equipment clean and well maintained; participate in salon cleaning rotas.
Support promotional activity
Support promotional activity, assist with visual merchandising and contribute to meeting sales/service targets.
Hair Stylist skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Proven salon experience delivering cutting, colouring and styling services.
- Strong client-facing and communication skills with a professional manner.
- Competence with common colour and cutting techniques used by the salon.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Ability to work salon hours including regular evenings and weekends and to stand for extended periods.
- Basic knowledge of COSHH and salon health & safety practices.
Useful where relevant
- Relevant hairdressing qualification or completed apprenticeship (e.g. NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent) or demonstrable salon experience.
- Advanced colour or specialist training (e.g. balayage, colour correction).
- Experience with client booking or POS systems and record-keeping.
- Retail and upselling experience with measurable results.
- Experience mentoring apprentices or junior stylists.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Hair Stylist job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Show the working pattern
State typical shift times, weekend and evening requirements and whether rotas are weekly or monthly so candidates know if it fits their lifestyle.
Be explicit about earnings
Explain the pay model (basic salary, commission, tips) and any targets or sales expectations rather than only listing a vague ‘competitive’ salary.
Ask for a portfolio
Request a portfolio of recent work or links to social profiles so you can assess technical standard and creative style before interviewing.
Clarify development
Explain training opportunities, product education and any support for external courses to attract candidates wanting to progress.
List essential skills separately
Separate must-haves (e.g. cutting and colouring competency) from nice-to-haves (e.g. session work experience) to avoid deterring suitable applicants.
Hair Stylist salary considerations
Hair stylist pay varies widely and is influenced by several factors. Rather than a single market rate, employers should consider how experience, salon position, location, service mix and pay model (basic salary plus commission/tips) shape total earnings.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Hair Stylist candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the typical shifts and rota?
Candidates need to know start/finish times, frequency of late finishes, weekend requirements and how rotas are organised.
How does pay work (salary, commission, tips)?
Experienced stylists will ask about basic pay, commission rates, how tips are distributed and any targets to earn bonuses.
What is the client profile and booking level?
Applicants want to know whether the salon has a regular client base, typical appointment length and average service types.
Which product brands and equipment does the salon use?
Stylists often prefer working with certain professional brands and will want clarity on product ranges and tools provided.
What training and progression are offered?
Candidates may value in-house education, sponsored external courses or clear pathways to senior or specialist roles.
Where to post a Hair Stylist job
For hair stylist vacancies, use a mixture of local and sector-specific channels: local job boards and community groups attract candidates living nearby, while salon and beauty industry boards reach stylists actively seeking work. Social media (visual platforms) is valuable for showing the salon’s work; include portfolios or images to increase engagement.
Related hair & beauty job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Hair Stylist job description FAQs
Do hair stylists need a formal qualification?
A formal qualification (such as an NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent) is commonly expected but not legally required. Employers often accept a combination of accredited training and demonstrable salon experience or a portfolio.
How should I assess technical ability at interview?
Ask for a portfolio of recent work, discuss specific colour and cutting techniques, and include a short practical assessment or trial working slot where feasible to observe standards and client interaction.
What employment model should I offer?
Typical models include employed stylist on salary plus commission, commission-only, or chair/booth rental. Choose the model that best fits your business model and local market; be clear about expectations and how commission/tips are calculated.
How long should probation be?
A probation period of 3 months is common and gives both parties time to assess fit, with regular reviews and clear performance objectives.
What checks should I do before hiring?
Confirm right to work in the UK, take references from previous salons where possible, review a portfolio, and where appropriate discuss any health considerations relating to prolonged standing or handling chemicals.
Ready to recruit your next Hair Stylist?
Use this template to create a clear advert, ask candidates for portfolios, and choose advertising channels that showcase your salon’s work. When you’re ready, post the vacancy to relevant job boards and social channels to attract qualified stylists.
