How long does it take to become a hairstylist?

Check out this post now to know how long does it take to become a hairstylist as well as everything that is related to the hair industry in Europe.

Hairstylist is now trending on top of selected career paths due to the booming hair beauty industry. This post will give you a comprehensive guide of steps with the average time so that you can estimate how long does it take to become a hairstylist in European areas.

First thing to know about hair stylist

Here are the most basic things you should know when learning about the hairstylist profession – one of the fastest growing professions in the European market.

What is a hair stylist?

A hairstylist is the person whose job it is to change their styles for their customers. They are proficient hairdressers that can create a wide range of looks and styles. A hair stylist may have several areas of expertise, including styling, coloring, haircuts, and applying hair extension. Hairstylists are essential in helping people attain their ideal hair look, whether it’s through a basic trim or a full hair makeover.

• A hairstylist in Europe may work in a hair salon or be a private hair salons for fixed customers. For example, stars, entertainment industry hire a private hairstylist to work with them in a contract.
•  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of employment in this field is estimated to grow by 8% from the year 2018 to 2028, making it to become the fastest growth among occupations.
• Especially, In Europe, personal service workers—including hairdressers—are among the fastest-growing professions, which makes a 9.6% increase in people finding jobs in this field.

For these reasons, if you’re passionate about hairstyling, Europe offers promising opportunities for your career.

Requirements to start a barber career in Europe

There are two things that you have to satisfy the basic requirement to start a hairstyling career:

• Education: In Europe, working as a hairdresser typically requires certification or licensing. To meet the requirement to enter a cosmetology license, you have to have at least a high school degree.
• Financial aid: Starting a career in the hair industry is in need of a good financial base, such as tuition fee, supplies, equipment. These fees vary by country, but might be from $6000-$10000 for a full course. 

The requirement to pursue the hairstylist career in Europe is higher than in Asian countries due to the hairdressing laws or chemical application as well as the living standard of Europe. In Asian nations, they spend less to finish a course, the fee is around $1000 – $2500 (Vietnam) or ($4000-$5000) on average for a comprehensive hairstyling course in 1 year while Singapore has the highest tuition fee, around $2800 for a single basic training.

Ensuring that you meet all the requirements about education and financial independence in order to start the course properly. If you have some trouble with financial aid, you can consider some loans for vocational programs and pay off the loans after you get into the workforce.

>> See more: A Comprehensive Guide On How To Become A Hair Stylist

Details of how long to become a hairstylist

Going to the main part, Gla Hair will provide you an average framework of a hairstylist. Notice that this’s the estimated time that Gla Hair research European hairstyling jobs, so the time to become a hairstylist can change in reality.

Preparing time

The first step when starting in a new field is to prepare for your journey. It may take you around 2 months to prepare well for your studies. First, take your time to search for the hairstyling industry reality: Is it competive? How to become a hairstylist step by step?… You should try to list all the questions that you want to ask before going to the next phase.

After you have done your research and can find a reliable hairstyling course, you will find the way of applying for a vocational school/ professional hairstyling program. 

• The time to finish the profile to start the course may take around 1 month. Remember to find the starting time of the course, as many vocational schools may just have 2 semesters in a year. 
• If you choose a professional hairstyling program from a private teacher, the preparation time may be less.

Pursue an educational program

One phase of the question is how long to become an European hairstylist. This process has the longest duration, but can also vary depending on the specific course or area that you take in. Normally, the time for learners to get on with hairstyling procedures may range from 6 months to 2 years. 

For example, a Hairdressing – Refresher Classic Ladies Hair Cutting course in the UK at the beginner level takes you 6 weeks to finish, while in Germany, the Hairdresser Ausbildung (apprenticeship) typically lasts for three years for comprehensive training and theory.

>> See more: How To Get A Hairstylist License In 5 Detailed Steps

Improve your real hairstyling skills

Once you get all the theoretical knowledge, it can cost you around 1 year to transition from theory to practical experience. This allows them to develop skills and real experience and help them to work in a realistic working environment. 

During this phase, they may work as an intern in salons of the vocational classes or the salons of the hair center, they can gain hands-on experience with clients under supervision. Moreover, they also develop interpersonal skills and gradually get client relationships there.

Joining the workforce

After you graduate from your course and can work independently as a hairstylist, your journey begins with 2-3 months of choosing the path and applying for salon positions. 

You may choose one of the path that Gla Hair suggest below: 

• Opening your own salon, allocate 4-8 months for planning, learning about business procedures, and creating your brand. 
• Being a personal stylist for customers, this is more popular for hairstylists that are professional and full of experience. You can work with KOLs, stars or influencers and style their hair for them individually.
• Working as a hairstylist in a salon: This selection is by far the best choice as it saves your time, doesn’t require any fee for you and allows you to work in a fixed time at the salon.

Whether you are part of a team or an entrepreneurial stylist, each day brings new clients and creative challenges. Carefully spend your time to choose the career path that suits you the best.

In a nutshell, the average time for a person to become a hairstylist is around 10 months – 3.5 years from the start to finish, and the specific time depends on the real courses and places where you start your course. 

Tips for success on becoming a hairstylist

Below are tips that you should know that can save you the time on how long does it take to become a hairstylist:

• Find a hairstylist mentor:  A mentor can provide valuable insights and help you grow. Connect with experienced hair stylists who can guide you and you can work for them to learn from their expertise, observe their techniques, and ask questions.
• Build a professional network: Attend industry events, workshops, and trade shows. Network with fellow stylists, salon owners, and product representatives. Building relationships opens doors to opportunities and keeps you updated on trends.
• Set career goals aligned with your skills: Do you want to specialize in cutting, coloring, or bridal styling? Set specific goals aligned with your interests and strengths. Also, you can set short term goals and long term goals to be easier in achieving the target.
• Always practice learning to improve skills, update new hairstyles: Hairstyling evolves, so stay informed about new trends, products, and techniques, create experiments with different styles and hone your skills.

Acknowledging these tips will help you spend a shorter time to become a professional hairstylist as well as broaden your knowledge and get a better relationship with your co-worker in the field. 

FAQ

These are some frequently asked questions that Gla Hair have seen when people find out how long does it take to become a hairstylist.

What is the average salary of a hairstylist in Europe?

In a nutshell, the average salary of a hairstylist is quite high when compared to other jobs in the workfield. The average salary for a hairstylist in Germany is approximately €23,500/ year for those who work in salons, beauty parlors, or spas. In the UK, the average salary is around £25,145 per year.

Is there any difference between hairstylists in Europe with other areas? 

In Europe, aspiring hairstylists often attend cosmetology schools, which takes you around 2-3 years as they require a degree or official certificate. It has some differences when compared to hairstylists in Asian countries, that is, Asian hair stylists don’t need an official certificate to work, they usually learn and work at a private salon and learn from that salon with their mentor. Therefore, the time that Asian hair stylists take to become a professional hairstylist may be shorter.

Above is the guide for how long does it take to become a hairstylist, Gla Hair are so happy to deliver you the comprehensive knowledge with this post. Hope that you can be successful in conquering your career path.

Emma

Emma is an experienced and knowledgeable hair expert with over 6 years of dedicated work and research in the hair industry. Author Emma is presently collaborating with Gla Hair in an aim to provide valuable expertise and disseminate the latest updated trends to hair businesses worldwide.