1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Hairdressers Hairstylists And Cosmetologists
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Occupation Detailed Description

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

The main tasks and work activities of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists are to clean tools or equipment, clean facilities or work areas, trim client hair, groom wigs or hairpieces. In general, for the Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, active Listening, speaking, service Orientation, critical Thinking and other 8 skills are required.
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists jobs. 20.93% of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 78.97% of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
20.93%
Post-Secondary Certificate
78.97%
Some College Courses
0.10%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

  • Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
  • Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
  • Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
  • Schedule client appointments.
  • Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
  • Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
  • Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
  • Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
  • Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
  • Develop new styles and techniques.
  • Apply water or setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair, and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair.
  • Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style.
  • Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax.
  • Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions.
  • Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
  • Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches.
  • Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers, and assistants.
  • Recommend and explain the use of cosmetics, lotions, and creams to soften and lubricate skin and enhance and restore natural appearance.
  • Give facials to patrons, using special compounds, such as lotions and creams.
  • Clean, shape, and polish fingernails and toenails, using files and nail polish.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Selling or Influencing OthersConvincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Clean tools or equipment.
  • Clean facilities or work areas.
  • Trim client hair.
  • Groom wigs or hairpieces.
  • Assess skin or hair conditions.
  • Schedule appointments.
  • Apply solutions to hair for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.
  • Maintain client information or service records.
  • Apply cleansing or conditioning agents to client hair, scalp, or skin.
  • Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.
  • Promote products, services, or programs.
  • Sell products or services.
  • Design costumes or cosmetic effects for characters.
  • Provide medical or cosmetic advice for clients.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Administer therapeutic massages.
  • Supervise service workers.
  • Train service staff.
  • Treat nails by shaping, decorating, or augmenting.
  • Set up merchandise displays.

Skills and Abilities for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Barrettese.g. Butterfly hair clamps
  • Hair combs or brushese.g. Color application combs
  • Hair or curling irone.g. Curling irons
  • Manicure implementse.g. Cuticle nippers
  • Manicure implementse.g. Cuticle pushers
  • Manicure implementse.g. Cuticle scissors
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Hair combs or brushese.g. Detangling combs
  • Stop watche.g. Digital timers
  • Barrettese.g. Duckbill hair clamps
  • Applicator brushese.g. Dye application brushes
  • Cash registerse.g. Electronic cash registers
  • Hair combs or brushese.g. Fine-tooth combs
  • Nail clipperse.g. Fingernail clippers
  • Hair or curling irone.g. Flat irons
  • Barrettese.g. Hair clips
  • Barrettese.g. Hair pins
  • Hair scissorse.g. Hair thinning scissors
  • Hair scissorse.g. Haircutting scissors
  • Hair combs or brushese.g. Hairstyling brushes
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.