Hair Qualifications and Experience Needed To Succeed as a Hairdresser in London

Ever wondered what hair qualifications and experience is needed to succeed as a hairdresser in London?

With its vibrant and dynamic beauty scene, London offers incredible opportunities for talented hair professionals. However, to stand out and thrive in this competitive market, it’s essential to have the right hair qualifications and experience.

In this article, we’ll explore what top London salons look for in a hairdresser and how you can prepare to meet these standards.

Essential Qualifications

  • NVQ/SVQ in Hairdressing The most fundamental qualification for a hairdresser in the UK is an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) or SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) in Hairdressing, typically at Level 2 or 3. These qualifications provide comprehensive training in hair cutting, styling, coloring, and basic treatments. Level 2 covers the basics, while Level 3 delves into more advanced techniques and salon management skills.
  • Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are an excellent way to gain hands-on experience while earning a qualification. Many top London salons offer apprenticeship programs that combine practical work with classroom-based learning. These programs are often highly regarded by employers because they provide real-world experience alongside formal education.
  • Specialised Courses Taking specialised courses can set you apart from other candidates. Courses in advanced colouring techniques, precision cutting, hair extensions, and bridal hairstyling can enhance your skillset and make you more attractive to top-tier salons. Renowned institutions like the London School of Barbering and the Vidal Sassoon Academy offer a variety of advanced training options.
  • Health and Safety Certification Understanding health and safety regulations is crucial in a salon environment. Many employers look for hairdressers who have completed courses in health and safety, ensuring they can maintain a safe and hygienic workspace for clients and colleagues.

Desired Experience

  • Work Experience in Reputable Salons Having experience working in reputable salons can significantly boost your employability. High-end London salons often seek candidates with a proven track record in similar environments. Gaining experience in well-known or high-traffic salons demonstrates that you can handle a demanding clientele and thrive in a fast-paced setting.
  • Customer Service Skills Exceptional customer service is a cornerstone of a successful hairdressing career. London salons value hairdressers who can build strong relationships with clients, understand their needs, and provide personalized service. Previous roles in customer-facing positions, whether within the beauty industry or in other sectors, can highlight your ability to deliver excellent customer experiences.
  • Portfolio of Work A well-curated portfolio showcasing your best work is essential. Include high-quality photos of various hairstyles, cuts, and colors you’ve created. Before-and-after shots are particularly effective in demonstrating your skill and creativity. A digital portfolio, such as a professional Instagram account, can also be a powerful tool to showcase your talent to potential employers.
  • Participation in Competitions and Events Taking part in hairdressing competitions and industry events can set you apart from other candidates. These activities demonstrate your passion for the craft and your commitment to excellence. Many salons appreciate hairdressers who are proactive in honing their skills and staying engaged with the broader hairdressing community.

Additional Skills and Attributes

  • Adaptability and Creativity London’s diverse clientele means you’ll need to adapt to various styles and preferences. Salons look for hairdressers who are creative and can think on their feet, offering clients innovative solutions and keeping up with the latest trends.
  • Strong Communication Skills Effective communication is vital in understanding client desires and explaining styling options and aftercare. Being able to clearly articulate your ideas and listen attentively to your clients ensures satisfaction and builds trust.
  • Team Player Working in a busy salon requires excellent teamwork. Employers value hairdressers who can collaborate well with colleagues, contribute positively to the salon environment, and support one another in delivering top-notch service.
  • Time Management and Efficiency The ability to manage your time effectively and work efficiently under pressure is crucial. London salons often have a high volume of clients, and being able to maintain quality while working swiftly is a highly sought-after skill.

Continuous Professional Development

  • Staying Updated with Trends The hairdressing industry is ever-evolving, with new trends and techniques emerging regularly. Attending workshops, seminars, and industry events helps you stay informed and brings fresh ideas to your clients.
  • Advanced Training and Certifications Pursuing further education and obtaining advanced certifications can boost your credentials. Courses in business management, advanced color correction, or even teaching qualifications can open new career pathways and enhance your professional standing.
  • Building a Professional Network Networking with other professionals in the industry can lead to job opportunities, collaborations, and valuable mentorships. Joining professional associations and online forums can help you connect with peers and industry leaders.

Conclusion

To succeed as a hairdresser in London, it’s essential to have a solid foundation of hair qualifications and experience, and a continuous commitment to professional development. London’s top salons seek talented individuals who are not only skilled and creative but also adaptable, communicative, and dedicated to providing exceptional service. By meeting these criteria and continually striving to improve, you can build a rewarding and successful career in one of the world’s most exciting cities. So, polish your skills, update your portfolio, and get ready to make your mark in London’s vibrant hairdressing scene.

Ready to get your hairdresser career moving with your next hair job in London?

Contact: Rose Hadley London: Tel 0207 584 1990 OR apply here:
https://rosehadleylondon.co.uk/job-types/hair


Temp To Permanent Hair Jobs In London

Temp To Permanent Hair Jobs In London.

Are you looking for a change in your career? Feeling tired of the uncertainty that comes with temporary work? If so, it may be time to consider returning to full-time, permanent work in the hairdressing industry.

Hair salons in London are always on the lookout for talented and dedicated hairdressers to join their teams. With a full-time permanent position, you can enjoy the stability and security that comes with a regular income and benefits. You’ll also have the opportunity to build long-term relationships with your clients and colleagues, and to develop your skills and expertise through ongoing training and development.

In addition, the hairdressing industry is constantly evolving, with new trends, techniques, and products emerging all the time. As a full-time hairdresser, you’ll have the opportunity to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry, and to continually challenge yourself to grow and improve.

So if you’re ready for a change and want to take your career in hairdressing to the next level, why not consider returning to full-time permanent work in a hair salon in London? It could be just the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Watch the video for a reminder of how London hair salons are welcoming back experienced hairdressers seeking permanent, full time salon roles and what they will offer you to join.

Ready to make the next career move from temp to permanent hair jobs In London?

We have the perfect hair job role for you. 

Contact Rose Hadley London – Hair recruitment agency London – if you are a temp hairdresser seeking a permanent hair job in London. Tel. 0207 584 1990.


Hair Jobs Today – London

Importance of Career Development

Develop the hair career you always wanted and the hair jobs today you always dreamed about.

You do this by using a career development plan to guide your steps. Use it to guide you every step of the way, through new experiences, qualifications and training, to promotions and rewards.

It can be like having a satellite navigation for the hair career journey, rather than travelling without a written plan or guidance on the destinations available and how to get there.

Benefits of Career Development

For career hairdressers, the direct benefits for you include :

  • Career goal achievement
  • Analysing current skills and experience
  • Identifying training needs
  • Networking opportunities
  • Improved communication skills
  • More productive and positive internal relationships
  • More productive and positive external relationships
  • Greater understanding of the importance of organisational visibility
  • Improve networking, rapport-building and showcasing skills
  • Learn goal-setting techniques to identify career goals and maximise success
  • Enhance time-management and prioritisation skills to create time to work on career goals

How Do You Prepare A Career Development Plan?

  • Learn about potential career options
  • Discover growing job markets
  • Identify careers that match your skills
  • Understand career qualifications
  • Assess salaries and other benefits
  • Compare possible career paths

Formalising A Career Development Plan

Establish SMART goals i.e. specific, measurable, realistic, timed goals.
Develop a career action plan. You may be able to set your SMART goals yourself, if you are career minded, have done the background research in your chosen field and have clear vision of what you want to achieve in your beauty career.

Getting A Career Development Coach

Sometimes it is easier and saves time and more productive to reach out to an experienced career coach to help you with your career plan.

You may be able to learn about how your skills and experience can be used to open doors to a particular hair salon or hair career role. It may be an area you are already aware of, or something completely new. It could also be using your current hairdressing skills and experience somewhere new in the UK or abroad.

Learn about potential career options and growing markets for your skills and locations where potential salons are seeking your beauty therapist skills and experience.

  • Looking for career opportunities
  • Assess salaries and other benefits
  • Finding the perfect job to match your ambitions

If you are ready to reach out to a hair career coach, we can help you.

Rose Hadley London have over twenty years experience of matching hairdresser ambitions with career opportunities.

Download to learn how our Hair Jobs Today coaching can set you on the right path to your dream job.

Make contact today.

Rose Hadley London

Tel. 0207 584 1990


From Temp To Permanent Hairdresser Jobs

If you are currently a temp hairdresser, looking to go Permanent, this is for you.

There are top Hair salons out there seeking permanent staff. Why not start a new season in your life with a career change in the shape of a permanent hair job?

Why Change From Temp To Permanent Job Status?

In every career there is a time where your life stage and circumstances mean that temporary work, better known as temping to hair temps, suits your lifestyle requirements and time you have available.

This may be because you are a student, studying for a qualification, or because you have children or elderly relatives that you need to look after.

You may also have another passion, such as sports, shopping, therapy or travel that you want to indulge in. Or need some time for yourself.

Then, at other times, the exact opposite occurs, you get more free time as the kids go to school, leave the home to go to College or University and you want to return to a full time Permanent role.

Advantages of Switching From Temp To Permanent Job

You know you are ready for the change to Permanent, but do you know the full set of advantages that you gain from the switch? As human beings it is motivational to understand these to help drive forward into a new permanent job role in hairdressing.

  • Job security
  • Career advancement
  • Company investment in you
  • Personal development
  • Further education sponsored by your company
  • Training courses

More Benefits of Temp To Permanent Jobs

This has the potential to be a phenomenal year for you with opportunities in all sectors of the hair industry, according to recruitment experts Rose Hadley London. Are you ready to strive and thrive as a permanent hairdresser?

Here’s some more advantages for deciding to go Permanent as a Hairdresser :-

  • Paid holidays
  • Sick pay
  • Maternity leave
  • Guaranteed income (although it’s not all about the money for hairdressers and beauty therapists, career development and good working environment are also very important).

Building A Long Term Relationship With Clients

Hairdressers just love their clients.

Permanent work allows you as a hairdresser to build a long term relationship with your clients. What better way than seeing the clients transformed and so appreciative. This is very rewarding.

Being Part of The Team

Hardressers are crucial parts of the salon team. This salon team is more like a “salon family”, with opportunities to make friends.

The salon workplace is your “stage” where you perform your skills and like any good performer, you like a happy and appreciative audience (the clients), as well as being a valued member of the talented salon team.

It is uplifting and rewarding to be part of a professional salon team and a permanent job placement can add to that sense of feeling more part of the salon team.

Another advantage of being permanent is that you will be invited the all the social events if you like to have fun, when work is over for the day.

Getting Company Investment In You

Job satisfaction is high if you are working in the right place and feeling supported by your company through extra learning opportunities and development courses.

Before you rule yourself out, due to lack of experience

Minimum Beauty or Hair Level 3 qualified and 1+ years experience is what many salons expect from their candidates. So getting qualified is the important first step to launch your career. Then gain salon experience from there.

New Decade Means…A New Permanent Hair Job For You

Use the “new decade” as a powerful reason to make your career move and match the it with your new permanent hair job in London.

Do you really want to end this new decade in the same role? Or with the same level of experience?

Sometimes it helps to talk to hair and beauty recruitment experts for some free insider knowledge – Rose Hadley London.

Choose A Trusted Agency To Help You

RHL have over 20 years of experience matching ambitious, newly qualified and experienced candidates with top rated Hair and Beauty salons in London.

We are here to serve you and provide your perfect candidate / salon match for new hairdresser roles.

So let’s dive in.

What are your career aspirations for this new decade?

Thinking of a New Hairdressing Job?

There are some exiting job roles available for Permanent Senior Hairdressers and Permanent Hair Salon Managers if you are ready for a promotion or an opportunity to get new experience.

Moving jobs will normally result in a salary increase for qualified candidates with a solid track record in the hair industry.

After some being under pressure in previous years, many salons are expecting a healthy boost in demand for hairdressers in the future.

So this year could be the best ever to seal your dream move to a permanent hair job.

In Summary

It’s a new season and a good reason to make your career plans a reality with a move to a permanent job role in hair and beauty.

If you are ready to find out more about the permanent hair career options or beauty career options available to you, call the experts in Hair and Beauty Recruitment – Rose Hadley London.

Local Permanent Hair career opportunities are available now. Tel. 0207 584 1990