Beauty and Wellbeing - Barber
Beauty and Wellbeing - Barber
Amber
Barbers cut, trim and style customers’ hair, beards and moustaches. They help customers to decide how they want their hair to look. They also use equipment like scissors, hairdryers, and straighteners.
- Welcome customers and find out what they want
- Give advice on hairstyles and grooming
- Cut and style hair
- Shave, trim and shape beards and moustaches
- Provide scalp, face and neck massages
- Clean and sterilise equipment, like combs, razors and clippers
- Take payments, keep records and make appointments
- Keep up to date with new styles and techniques
Many barbers are self-employed and run their own business or work in salons. This job requires barbers to spend a lot of time on their feet.
Full-time barbers usually work between 35 and 40 hours a week. They may have to work some evenings and weekends. There are often opportunities for part-time work or flexible working hours.
Starting salary: £15,000
Experienced salary: up to £25,000
Many employers will want you to have some GCSEs or qualifications especially in maths and English. It would be useful to study hair and beauty if it is on offer at your college if this interests you.
Experience is key in this role. You may be able to start work as a trainee barber in a barbershop and learn on the job. Your employer would expect you to take qualifications part-time, either at a college or in their own training school in hair.
You could also apply for an apprenticeship. You can do a Barbering Professional Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or a Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the DfE exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to be component enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.
You could take a college course to get you started in a career in barbering. Courses like:
- Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Barbering
- T Level in Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy