You could take a college course that will give you some of the skills and knowledge you'll need to start in this career.

Courses include:

• hairdressing
• barbering
• women's and men's hairdressing

You may be able to combine these courses with other subjects like make-up and nails.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could apply to do an apprenticeship to get into this job, for example:

• Hairdressing Professional Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Barbering Professional Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships take between 1 and 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You might be able to start work as a trainee hairdresser or barber and learn on the job.

Your employer would expect you to take a part-time course to get qualifications, either at a college or in their own training school.

You may also be able to work freelance and rent space in a salon or barbershop, though you'll usually have to supply your own equipment.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with your hands
• active listening skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work on your own
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to learn through your work
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As a hairdresser or barber you could:

• talk to customers and discuss styling ideas
• wash, cut and style hair
• apply colours, tints, braids and hair extensions
• trim and shape beards and moustaches
• finish jobs using hair products
• order stock, take payments and make appointments

You could work in a salon, in a barbershop, at a client's home, at a health spa or on a cruise ship.

Your working environment may be physically active.