A Day in the Life of a Hairstylist

The job of a hairstylist can be an exciting one, but one that has to be trained and prepared for it like any professional career. There are many different aspects to a hairstylist's position, depending on what your focus is. You could be dealing with different cuts and styles only, dealing with coloring, or even creating hairpieces or wigs if needed. Hairstylists can work in local salons or spas, as an entrepreneur themselves, or even working in exotic destinations such as on movie or television sets. There is no limit to the amount of advancement available for a hairstylist when you are motivated to expand your training and knowledge.

A day in the life of a hairstylist can begin as soon as you enter the salon. Examining your appointment book for any pre-scheduled cuts or styles can give you a good idea on how your day will proceed. While you may have only half a day pre-scheduled, there can be many walk-in clients that will fill up your day quite quickly. You may have everything at your station ready to use for the day, or you may have to gather your instruments for your first client. You will need to use different products and tools on different clients, so it's always a good idea to find out what type of cut your next appointment is so that you are prepared for their arrival.

During the time you spend with a client you will want their experience to be a favorable one to ensure their repeat business. While some salons and spas have separate people to shampoo clients' hair, others will require the hairstylist to do this part on their own. Being the person to clean and cut the hair does have its advantages since you will have a variety of activities during the day rather than standing at your chair and completing cuts only for the entire workday. Once the client is clean, they are ready for their cut and style. Cutting hair is not only just a matter of using scissors to shape and style hair for people; it is an entire experience that includes conversation and interaction with the client. Customers will return to hairstylists that remember their name, their children, or even other small details about what they do for work. Showing interest in your clients is one of the biggest parts of a hairstylist since you can also gather information on who they are as a person to help them find a style that is all their own.

Some workdays for a hairstylist may require coloring customers' hair. Finding the right color that compliments your client's complexion is not an easy job and may require some additional training after you complete your cosmetology course. Complete overall coloring will require more time than clients who need touch up work on their hair or wish to add highlights. Often your scheduling can overlap basic cuts with complete colorings since there is time between applications and rinsing of color. Hairstylists that have a lot of practice can easily mesh their schedules to include colorings while still managing cuts in between for a full and complete workday.

Some hairstylists will work outside of a salon in order to provide services for those who cannot get into the salon for cuts, styles, and colors. There are many hairstylists that will travel to senior citizens lodges to provide services at a discount once a week, or more depending on the demand. For some, this outside work can provide a nice break from working all day at your chair in the salon and give you a day full of conversation and companionship with those clients who you may not see otherwise.