Becoming a qualified hairdresser in the UK brings with it some fantastic career opportunities. As well as doing something that you love on a professional basis, hairdressing brings with it an attractive salary, a huge variety of employment options and the freedom to work in a way which suits your interests and lifestyle.
Although the majority of those undertaking a hairdressing course are aiming for a career in a high street salon, your qualifications can offer many more options, from working as a hairdressing teacher yourself, to a career as a stylist in the world of television and film. Being a competitive jobs market, as well as the challenges of constantly updated styling techniques and skills, it is important to have the relevant qualifications to give you the best start in your career as a hairdresser.
Fortunately hairdressing courses are widely available with a wide variety of options available across the country to help you get started, and to keep your skills up to date as your career progresses. Hairdressing is one of the most popular careers to embark on for school leavers, along with existing hairdressers looking to keep their techniques sharp and those returning to the industry.
If you are new to hairdressing and right at the beginning of you career then the first step is to find the right hairdressing course in your area. There are many hairdressing courses offering different qualifications but the most popular and well recognised are NVQ certifications in hairdressing or barbering. NVQ’s are offered at pretty much all colleges as well as dedicated hairdressing schools.
The main NVQ hairdressing course is split into 3 levels. You pass each level as the course progresses so you can begin looking for trainee and apprenticeship work during your course once you have passed the lower levels. Level 1 teaches the foundations of hairdressing and once passed many salons will consider taking you on as an assistant. Level 2 covers all the essential skills and knowledge you’ll need, with level 3 looking at more advanced techniques which you can choose to specialise in. Alongside the hairdressing course are modules in barbering if that is the area you wish to focus on.
Once you have passed the basic levels of your hairdressing NVQ options branch out even further – City & Guilds offer training programs for specific areas of the trade such as colouring and extensions.
Although NVQ’s make up the main foundations of hairdressing training and are important for almost anyone looking to start a career in hairdressing, there are plenty other useful courses offered by various institutions. Colleges and universities offer foundation degrees, professional diplomas and HND courses in hairdressing which often offer salon management training within the course.
Beauty Therapy courses are a good option if you aren’t sure exactly where you are heading with your career and want to keep your options slightly broader. Whatever your ultimate ambition, now is a great time to consider a career in hairdressing with a broad range of hairdressing courses available throughout the country.