Top 12 Hairdresser Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting the perfect resume as a hairdresser requires more than just listing your experience with scissors and dye; it necessitates showcasing a blend of technical prowess and soft skills that demonstrate your comprehensive capabilities in the beauty industry. Highlighting the top hairdresser skills on your resume can set you apart in a competitive job market, ensuring potential employers recognize your proficiency in delivering exceptional client satisfaction and impeccable hair services.
Hairdresser Skills
- Haircutting
- Coloring
- Styling
- Balayage
- Blowouts
- Extensions
- Keratin Treatments
- Updos
- Barbering
- Texturizing
- Highlights
- Customer Service
1. Haircutting
Haircutting is the process of trimming or shaping hair using tools like scissors, clippers, and razors, performed by a hairdresser to achieve a desired style or length.
Why It's Important
Haircutting is important as it helps maintain healthy hair, enhances personal appearance, reflects individual style, and boosts confidence. For a hairdresser, it's a fundamental skill that enables them to craft customized looks, meet client needs, and express creativity.
How to Improve Haircutting Skills
Improving haircutting skills involves practice, education, and the use of high-quality tools. Here's a very short and concise strategy to enhance your abilities as a hairdresser:
Continuing Education: Enroll in advanced courses and workshops. Websites like BehindTheChair offer online and in-person classes focused on the latest techniques and trends.
Practice Regularly: More practice leads to better skills. Use mannequins to hone your techniques. Suppliers like Pivot Point provide quality mannequins for training purposes.
Use Quality Tools: Invest in professional-grade scissors, clippers, and styling tools. Brands like Hattori Hanzo Shears are well-regarded in the industry.
Seek Feedback: Constructive criticism from peers and mentors can guide improvement. Join forums or groups on platforms such as Hairbrained to connect with a community of professionals.
Stay Inspired: Follow industry leaders and influencers on social media for inspiration and tips. Instagram and YouTube are great platforms for visual and tutorial content.
Focus on Customer Service: Excellent communication and understanding your client's needs are key. Tailor each haircut to fit the individual's face shape, lifestyle, and preferences.
Remember, consistency and a willingness to learn are crucial for growth in the field of haircutting.
How to Display Haircutting Skills on Your Resume
2. Coloring
Coloring in the context of hairdressing refers to the process of changing the color of someone's hair using chemical dyes.
Why It's Important
Coloring is important for a hairdresser as it enhances the client's appearance, showcases the stylist's skill in customizing unique looks, and increases salon revenue through specialized services.
How to Improve Coloring Skills
Improving coloring as a hairdresser involves a blend of technical skill, creativity, and ongoing education. Here's a concise guide to enhance your coloring techniques:
Master the Basics: Understand color theory and the chemistry behind hair color products. Milady provides comprehensive guides and courses.
Stay Updated: Follow trends and techniques by subscribing to industry leaders on platforms like BehindTheChair.com.
Practice Techniques: Enhance your skills in balayage, foiling, and color blending. Hair Color Magic offers specialized training.
Use Quality Products: Invest in high-quality dyes and color care products. Brands like Wella Professionals are trusted by professionals.
Consultation Skills: Improve your consultation to understand client needs better. Tips can be found on The Salon Business.
Attend Workshops: Participate in workshops and hair shows. Premiere Orlando is one of the largest beauty events.
Get Certified: Obtain certifications from reputable institutions. Aveda offers advanced training and certification.
Experiment and Create: Practice on mannequin heads to try new techniques and color combinations. Pivot Point sells quality mannequins for practice.
Remember, continuous learning and hands-on practice are key to excelling in hair coloring techniques.
How to Display Coloring Skills on Your Resume
3. Styling
Styling, in the context of a hairdresser, refers to the art of creating, shaping, and arranging hair into a particular look or design using various techniques and products.
Why It's Important
Styling is crucial for a hairdresser because it enhances an individual's appearance, boosts confidence, and reflects personal style, while also showcasing the hairdresser's skill, creativity, and understanding of current trends.
How to Improve Styling Skills
Improving your styling skills as a hairdresser involves constant learning and practice. Here are concise ways to enhance your styling abilities:
Continuing Education: Enroll in advanced styling courses online or in-person. Websites like Udemy and Skillshare offer various tutorials.
Practice New Techniques: Practice on mannequins or volunteer models to try out new styles or techniques you've learned.
Stay Updated: Follow industry trends through fashion magazines, social media, and websites like The Salon Business for the latest hair styling trends.
Use Quality Tools and Products: Invest in high-quality styling tools and products. Check out recommendations on Hairdresser’s Journal International for professional-grade items.
Get Feedback: Ask for feedback from clients and peers. Join forums or communities on platforms like Reddit to share your work and get constructive criticism.
Attend Workshops and Seminars: Participate in industry workshops and seminars. Look for events through professional associations like the Professional Beauty Association.
Network with Other Professionals: Networking can provide you with new techniques and insights. Join professional networks on LinkedIn to connect with other hairdressers.
Remember, the key to improvement is consistent practice and staying open to new learning opportunities.
How to Display Styling Skills on Your Resume
4. Balayage
Balayage is a hair coloring technique where color is hand-painted onto hair to create a natural, graduated, sun-kissed effect with softer, less noticeable regrowth lines.
Why It's Important
Balayage is important for a hairdresser because it allows for customized, natural-looking highlights that grow out more gracefully than traditional techniques, increasing client satisfaction and retention.
How to Improve Balayage Skills
Improve your balayage technique with these concise tips:
Master Sectioning: Proper sectioning ensures even color distribution. Use diagonal sections for a more natural blend. Sectioning Techniques
Choose the Right Tools: Use brushes specifically designed for balayage for smoother application and blending. Balayage Brushes
Perfect Your Bleach Mixture: The consistency of your bleach mix is crucial. Aim for a texture that's not too runny to prevent bleeding. Mixing Bleach
Practice Feathering: Feathering at the root area avoids harsh lines. Learn the technique for seamless transitions. Feathering Technique
Understand Color Theory: A solid grasp of color theory helps in choosing the right shades and predicting how they will lift. Color Theory Guide
Stay Updated: Hair trends evolve, so continually educate yourself on new techniques and products. Latest Balayage Trends
Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any skill, perfection comes with practice. Work on mannequins to hone your technique. Practicing Balayage
By focusing on these areas, you can elevate your balayage skills and achieve more natural, beautiful results for your clients.
How to Display Balayage Skills on Your Resume
5. Blowouts
A blowout is a hairstyling process involving washing the hair, followed by blow-drying it with a round brush to achieve a smooth, sleek, and styled look without using hair cutting or chemical alteration.
Why It's Important
Blowouts are important for a hairdresser because they showcase the stylist's skill in creating smooth, voluminous, and polished hairstyles, enhance the hair's health and appearance, and boost client satisfaction and confidence.
How to Improve Blowouts Skills
Improving blowouts involves mastering techniques and using the right tools to achieve smooth, voluminous, and long-lasting results. Here are concise tips:
Preparation: Start with clean, conditioned hair. Use a volumizing shampoo and a lightweight conditioner.
Protect & Prime: Apply a heat protectant to shield hair from damage. Add a blowout cream for smoothness and control.
Choose the Right Tools: Use a high-quality hair dryer with a nozzle and a round ceramic brush for even heat distribution.
Section & Dry: Section hair and dry from roots to ends, pointing the dryer's nozzle downward to smooth cuticles. Focus on the roots for volume and the ends for smoothness.
Cool Shot & Finish: Use the dryer's cool shot button to set the style. Finish with a light hairspray for hold and a shine spray for gloss.
For more detailed guidance, consider professional tutorials or courses dedicated to perfecting blowout techniques.
How to Display Blowouts Skills on Your Resume
6. Extensions
Extensions are artificial or natural hair pieces added to a person's own hair to increase length, volume, or color.
Why It's Important
Extensions are important for a hairdresser because they allow for instant length and volume enhancement, enabling versatile styling and customization to meet clients' diverse beauty desires.
How to Improve Extensions Skills
To improve hair extension services as a hairdresser, follow these concise tips:
Stay Updated: Continuously educate yourself on the latest extension techniques and trends. Online platforms like Hair Extension Magazine offer insights and updates.
Quality Products: Invest in high-quality extensions. Brands like Great Lengths and Bellami Hair are renowned for their quality.
Client Consultation: Conduct thorough consultations to understand client needs and hair type. This consultation guide can help.
Customization: Tailor the extension type, color, and application method to each client for a natural look. Learn more about customization here.
Maintenance Education: Educate clients on proper extension care to prolong their lifespan. This care guide offers useful advice.
Certification: Obtain certifications from reputable extension brands to enhance credibility. Explore training options on Babe Hair Extensions or Hotheads.
Networking: Join professional groups and forums on platforms like LinkedIn to connect with other professionals and share knowledge.
Before and After Portfolio: Showcase your work on social media or your website to attract more clients. Instagram is a powerful tool for visual portfolios.
By focusing on continuous education, using quality products, and providing personalized services, you can significantly improve your hair extension offerings.
How to Display Extensions Skills on Your Resume
7. Keratin Treatments
Keratin treatments are salon hair-smoothing procedures that add a protein layer on the hair shaft to eliminate frizz, enhance shine, and make hair more manageable. They typically involve applying a keratin-based product to the hair, followed by heat sealing with a flat iron. Results can last up to several months.
Why It's Important
Keratin treatments are important for a hairdresser because they provide clients with smoother, frizz-free hair, enhancing manageability and shine, thereby meeting diverse styling needs and improving customer satisfaction.
How to Improve Keratin Treatments Skills
To enhance keratin treatments as a hairdresser, follow these concise strategies:
Assessment: Start with a thorough assessment of the client's hair type and condition. Tailor the treatment to their specific needs for optimal results.
Quality Products: Use high-quality keratin products. Research and select brands with positive reviews and proven results. Keratin Complex and Global Keratin are reputable options.
Proper Application: Follow the product's application instructions meticulously. Ensure even distribution and avoid over-saturating the hair to prevent damage.
Temperature Control: Use a flat iron with adjustable temperature settings. Adjust the heat according to the client's hair type—lower temperatures for fine hair and higher for thick or coarse hair.
Aftercare Advice: Educate your clients on proper aftercare. Recommend sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to prolong the treatment's effects. Pureology and Redken offer suitable products.
Regular Maintenance: Encourage clients to return for touch-ups and follow-up treatments as needed to maintain their hair's smoothness and condition.
Continuous Education: Stay updated with the latest techniques and products in keratin treatments by attending workshops and training sessions. BehindTheChair.com offers resources and courses for ongoing education.
Implementing these strategies will help you improve the results of keratin treatments, ensuring greater client satisfaction.
How to Display Keratin Treatments Skills on Your Resume
8. Updos
Updos are hairstyles that involve arranging the hair instead of letting it fall freely. They involve techniques such as twisting, braiding, and pinning the hair up and away from the neck and shoulders. Updos can be formal or casual and vary from simple ponytails to elaborate styles for events like weddings and proms.
Why It's Important
Updos are important for hairdressers as they showcase versatility, skill, and creativity, enhancing their portfolio and meeting diverse client needs for special occasions.
How to Improve Updos Skills
To improve updos, consider these concise tips tailored for hairdressers:
Practice Basic Techniques: Regularly practice foundational techniques such as backcombing, braiding, and pinning to ensure a solid base for any updo. Sam Villa offers tutorials and tips on these basics.
Stay Updated with Trends: Follow industry leaders and hairstyling platforms like Behind The Chair for the latest updo trends and techniques.
Use the Right Tools: Invest in quality hairpins, elastics, and styling tools. Detailed tool recommendations can be found on Hairdresser's Journal.
Product Knowledge: Understanding and using the right styling products for texture and hold is crucial. Modern Salon provides insights into the latest products.
Attend Workshops: Participate in workshops and courses for hands-on experience. Websites like The American Board of Certified Haircolorists (ABCH) list upcoming educational events.
Practice on Diverse Hair Types: Experiment with a variety of hair lengths, textures, and thicknesses to adapt techniques accordingly.
Seek Feedback: Ask clients and colleagues for feedback to continually improve your skills.
Remember, the key to mastering updos is practice, staying informed on trends and techniques, and being open to learning and feedback.
How to Display Updos Skills on Your Resume
9. Barbering
Barbering is the profession and practice of grooming, especially cutting, styling, and shaving men's hair and facial hair.
Why It's Important
Barbering is important as it specializes in grooming, styling, and cutting men's hair and facial hair, enhancing personal appearance, hygiene, and confidence, while also preserving traditional techniques and fostering community connections.
How to Improve Barbering Skills
Improving barbering skills requires a commitment to continuous learning, practice, and adapting to new trends. Here are concise steps for a hairdresser to enhance their barbering abilities:
Stay Educated: Enroll in advanced barbering courses and workshops. Online platforms like BarberingEdu offer a variety of resources.
Practice: Consistent practice on different hair types and styles improves technique and confidence. Consider volunteering at events or offering discounted services for practice.
Follow Trends: Keep up with the latest hairstyles and barbering techniques. Platforms like Booksy provide insights into current trends.
Invest in Quality Tools: High-quality tools can significantly improve the precision and outcome of your work. Research and purchase from reputable suppliers like Barber Depot.
Seek Feedback: Ask for feedback from clients and peers to understand areas of improvement. Online forums on Reddit can also offer constructive criticism.
Network: Join barbering communities and attend industry events to connect with other professionals. The National Barbering Association is a great place to start.
Health and Safety: Stay updated on health and safety standards in barbering to ensure a safe environment for you and your clients. Resources like OSHA can guide you on regulations and best practices.
By focusing on these areas, a hairdresser can significantly improve their barbering skills and stay competitive in the industry.
How to Display Barbering Skills on Your Resume
10. Texturizing
Texturizing is a hairdressing technique used to add or remove volume, create layers, and enhance movement in the hair by selectively cutting or thinning strands to achieve a desired texture and shape.
Why It's Important
Texturizing is important for a hairdresser because it adds volume, creates movement, removes bulk, enhances style versatility, and personalizes the haircut to better suit the client’s hair type and desired look.
How to Improve Texturizing Skills
Improving texturizing techniques as a hairdresser involves refining your approach to cutting and styling to add volume, movement, and dimension to the hair. Here are some concise tips:
Understand Hair Types: Tailor your texturizing techniques to different hair types and densities. Hair Type Guide.
Use the Right Tools: Invest in quality shears and razors for precise cuts. Thin texturizing shears for finer details and razors for softer looks. Choosing Hairdressing Scissors.
Learn Various Techniques: Master techniques like point cutting, slicing, and notching for different effects. Texturizing Techniques.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Consistent practice on mannequins and willing clients will refine your skills.
Seek Education and Workshops: Continuously update your skills through professional courses. Professional Hair Education.
Consultation is Key: Always communicate with your client before texturizing to ensure their expectations align with the outcome.
Sectioning Matters: Proper sectioning can help achieve more precise texturizing effects.
By focusing on these areas and constantly seeking to refine and evolve your techniques, you can significantly improve your texturizing skills.
How to Display Texturizing Skills on Your Resume
11. Highlights
Highlights are a hair coloring technique used to lighten sections of the hair, creating contrast and dimension, often to mimic the natural lightening effects of the sun.
Why It's Important
Highlights are important for a hairdresser because they offer personalized hair color enhancement, adding depth, dimension, and movement, helping clients achieve a more vibrant and refreshed look.
How to Improve Highlights Skills
To improve highlights, follow these concise steps:
Consultation: Begin with a thorough consultation to understand the client's desired outcome. Discuss color options and highlight types (e.g., balayage, foils).
Sectioning: Properly section the hair to ensure even coverage and natural-looking results.
Choosing Products: Select high-quality lightening products and developers suitable for the client's hair type and desired level of lift. Wella Professionals offer a wide range of options.
Application Technique: Use the right technique (e.g., weaving, slicing) for the desired effect. Precision is key to avoid harsh lines or splotchiness.
Timing: Carefully monitor processing time to achieve the correct level of lightness without damaging the hair.
Toning: Use toners to neutralize unwanted brassy or yellow tones and achieve a polished look. Schwarzkopf Professional has a variety of toners for different shades.
Conditioning: Finish with a deep conditioning treatment to restore moisture and shine. Products like Olaplex No.3 can help repair and protect hair structure.
Maintenance Advice: Provide clients with tailored advice on maintaining their highlights, including recommended products and when to schedule touch-ups.
By following these steps and continually honing your skills, you can enhance your highlighting techniques to achieve beautiful, professional results.
How to Display Highlights Skills on Your Resume
12. Customer Service
Customer service for a hairdresser involves providing prompt, attentive, and personalized care to clients, ensuring their satisfaction with the hairdressing services provided, from greeting upon arrival to understanding their hairstyling needs and preferences, and offering advice and solutions tailored to them.
Why It's Important
Customer service is crucial for a hairdresser as it builds trust, ensures client satisfaction, fosters loyalty, and encourages word-of-mouth referrals, ultimately driving repeat business and profitability.
How to Improve Customer Service Skills
Improving customer service in a hairdressing context involves focusing on personalization, communication, and feedback. Here are concise strategies:
Personalize the Experience: Tailor services and recommendations to each client's unique preferences and hair type. Understanding Customer Preferences offers insights into crafting personalized experiences.
Enhance Communication Skills: Train staff in effective communication, ensuring they listen actively and articulate styling options clearly. The Importance of Communication in Customer Service emphasizes the role of communication in satisfying clients.
Solicit and Act on Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback through surveys or informal conversations and use this information to improve services. Collecting and Implementing Customer Feedback outlines strategies for leveraging client insights.
Stay Updated with Trends: Continuously educate yourself and your team on the latest hairdressing techniques and trends. Resources like Behind The Chair offer updates and tutorials on current styles.
Create a Comfortable Atmosphere: Ensure your salon is welcoming, clean, and reflects a positive ambiance. Creating a Positive Salon Environment discusses the impact of environment on customer satisfaction.
By focusing on these areas, hairdressers can significantly improve the quality of their customer service, leading to higher client retention and word-of-mouth referrals.
How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume
