What Do Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Hairdressers and Cosmetologists provide beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May apply makeup, dress wigs, perform hair removal, and provide nail and skin care services. They also keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.

Other tasks include:

• Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
• Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers’ instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
• Schedule client appointments.
• Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
• Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
• Analyze patrons’ hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.

We asked Hairdressers and Cosmetologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 58% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Hairdressers and Cosmetologists cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers’ instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors. They keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.

A typical day for a Hairdresser, Hairstylist and Cosmetologist will also include:

• Schedule client appointments.
• Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
• Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
• Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
• Apply artificial fingernails.

We asked some Hairdressers and Cosmetologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	92% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	52% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	79% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	14% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	73% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Hairdressers and Cosmetologists also develop new styles and techniques. They may also order, display, and maintain supplies.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Clean, shape, and polish fingernails and toenails, using files and nail polish. They might also Give facials to patrons, using special compounds, such as lotions and creams.

In addition, they Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions.

To some Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, it is also their responsibility to Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Hairdresser, Hairstylist and Cosmetologist, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/personal-care-and-service/barbers-hairdressers-and-cosmetologists.htm

http://www.beautyschools.org/

http://www.nationalbarberboards.com/

http://www.nictesting.org/