Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Hair Stylist

hair stylist working

A Hair Stylist is a professional who specializes in creating and maintaining hairstyles for their clients. They possess the expertise and creativity to transform a person's appearance through various hair treatments, cuts, styling techniques, and color applications. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Hair Stylists.

Get market insights and compare skills for other jobs here.

Main Responsibilities of a Hair Stylist

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Hair Stylist:

Abide

Abide by Work Place Health and Safety Procedures.

Access

Access to top of the line salon products and treatments.

Act with

Act with integrity and respect.

Adapt

Adapt hairstyles and techniques to suit clients' individual features and preferences.

Adhere to

  • Adhere to policies of the facility and WTS International.

  • Adhere to the guidelines set by our Mission Statement.

Advise

Advise clients on proper hair care routines and recommend suitable products.

Analyze

Analyze clients' hair and scalp conditions to recommend suitable treatments.

Answer

Answer guest's questions in a knowledgeable and professional manner.

Apply

  • Apply hair extensions or weaves to enhance length and volume.

  • Apply hair treatment products, as needed (e.g. colour protection creams and hydrating masks).

Arrange

Arrange, organize and display merchandise.

Assess

Assess contraindications of guest that may prevent service from taking place.

Assist in

  • Assist in organizing and styling hair for fashion shows or editorial shoots.

  • Assist in selling hair care products and accessories to clients.

Attend

  • Attend all scheduled meetings.

  • Attend product knowledge training as required.

  • Attend schedules professional trainings.

  • Attend training sessions and workshops to improve skills and stay updated.

Begin

  • Begin and end all appointments on time.

  • Begin your day by sanitising and preparing your work station.

Build

  • Build clientele fast with our membership model.

  • Build productive and trusting relationships with customers.

Chair

Chair Rental available for the right individual.

Check

Check and respond to email and phone messages.

Clean

Clean and disinfect all equipment on a daily basis.

Coach

Coach and train experts and peers.

Collaborate with

  • Collaborate well with team members in a fun, professional work environment in a salon.

  • Collaborate with other salon staff to coordinate services and appointments.

  • Collaborate with photographers and stylists for fashion shoots or events.

Complete

  • Complete all assigned side work.

  • Complete tasks correctly and on-time.

Conduct

Conduct hair and scalp analysis to identify and address specific issues.

Consult

  • Consult with clients to determine their hair care needs and desired styles.

  • Consult with the guest to ensure expectations are met for a pleasurable visit, may include site tour.

Create

  • Create and maintain client cards with treatment notes when appropriate.

  • Create an inviting environment for customers by maintaining a neat and tidy workstation.

  • Create hairstyles for formal events and everyday looks, including braids, ponytails and buns.

  • Create intricate updos and formal hairstyles for special occasions.

  • Create stylish updos with techniques of extensions, braiding, platting, etc..

Cross-sell

Cross-sell hair care products or services, when appropriate.

Cut

  • Cut, trim, and shape hair using professional tools such as scissors, clippers, and razors.

  • Cut, trim and shave hair using professional equipment.

  • Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm and style hair.

Disinfect

Disinfect salon after each client.

Embody

Embody customer service excellence and demonstrate a professional and friendly demeanor.

Embrace

Embrace the Dyson Guest Experience model and consistently provide that experience to our guests.

Encourage

Encourage new clients and maintain clientele.

Ensure

  • Ensure clients with scheduled appointments receive service in a timely manner.

  • Ensure that all Experts adhere to corporate processes and safety standards.

  • Ensure that work areas are clean and set according to procedures.

  • Ensure tidiness of beauty stations and sterilize tools, as needed.

Follow

Follow Health Services guidelines and protocols.

Form

Form bonds with loyal customers and remember their hairstyle preferences.

Foster

Foster a shared responsibility for the well-being of our staff, guests, and community.

Get

Get product and tool discounts to help maximize your skill and creativity.

Give

Give great haircuts and make happy customers.

Greet

Greet all Members in person for each and every service.

Guarantee

Guarantee wage or commission which ever is higher.

Handle

  • Handle cash transactions and manage appointments using salon software.

  • Handle client complaints or concerns in a professional and empathetic manner.

  • Handle managerial tasks when the general and assistant managers are unavailable.

Inform

Inform Spa Director of product needs.

Keep

  • Keep abreast of emerging trends and innovative hair care products.

  • Keep current and up to date knowledge of changing trends and developments in the department.

  • Keep workstations and salon equipment clean and sanitized.

Lead

Lead both large and small groups effectively.

Learn

Learn all product application techniques, and benefits of all products sold and used in the salon.

Maintain

  • Maintain a high level of competence and professionalism when representing Chatters at all times.

  • Maintain and update client records.

  • Maintain a positive and motivational learning environment.

  • Maintain cleanliness in between clients and throughout the day.

  • Maintain cleanliness of salon.

  • Maintain knowledge of safety and sanitation practices in the salon.

  • Maintain records of client preferences, allergies, and previous services.

  • Maintain safe and clean work environment.

  • Maintain salon cleanliness / hygienic procedures and ensure all safety standards are met.

  • Maintain the cleanliness of the salon area, and rest of the Spa / Gym area as needed.

  • Maintain work stations and sanitizing tools and equipment.

Make

Make product recommendations and promote product sales.

Manage

  • Manage bank deposits, balance point of sale drawers and safe.

  • Manage bookings and serve walk-ins.

  • Manage re-bookings and in house online booking system.

Meet

Meet education requirements for advanced technical training and product knowledge.

Oversee

Oversee cleaning, maintenance, and deliveries staff outside of regular business hours.

Participate in

  • Participate in industry-related events and competitions to showcase skills.

  • Participate in Salon or external classes to learn the latest trends and advance your skills.

Perform

  • Perform a broad range of beauty services from cutting hair to performing scalp treatments.

  • Perform ah-may-zing blow outs on our clients consistently.

  • Perform all manicure and pedicure work according to protocols ensuring pure peace and relaxation.

  • Perform all treatments on services' menu based on current certifications.

  • Perform chemical services to include color, perms, and straightening techniques.

  • Perform light cleaning duties such as wiping windows, counters and sweeping / mopping.

  • Perform other related duties as needed.

  • Perform product demos and explain product features to customers.

  • Perform receptionist duties.

  • Perform routine salon functions.

  • Perform Sanitation Procedures in accordance with COVID-19 PROTOCOL.

  • Perform scalp massages and treatments to promote relaxation and improve hair health.

  • Perform shampoo treatments and various scalp massage techniques.

Provide

  • Provide an over the top client experience.

  • Provide consistent quality.

  • Provide customer with exceptional service during their visit.

  • Provide excellent customer service.

  • Provide exceptional customer service by ensuring client satisfaction.

  • Provide hair services such as cut, trim, style, color & perm hair.

  • Provide hair styling services for customers of the salon.

  • Provide various hair treatments, including conditioning, coloring, and perming.

Receive

Receive the best benefits in the industry.

Recommend

  • Recommend hairstyles and haircuts according to customers' face shapes and tastes.

  • Recommend products for home use.

Report

Report any incidents or accidents to a member of the management team.

Schedule

Schedule clients and maintain appointments.

Sell

Sell products, tools, and memberships.

Stay up to date with

  • Stay informed about the latest hair care techniques and technologies.

  • Stay organized and manage time effectively to accommodate multiple clients.

  • Stay up to date with the latest hair trends, techniques, and products.

Suggest

Suggest to guests other beneficial treatments offered in the spa.

Take

  • Take an active role in daily operations and supervise daily procedures.

  • Take an active role in leading beauty events.

Understand

  • Understand and uses universal precautions when providing services.

  • Understand the importance of maintaining a squeaky-clean work environment.

  • Understand the importance of maintaining a squeaky-clean work environment when working as a stylist.

  • Understand the ingredients in products and can explain their benefits to the guests.

Uphold

Uphold the salon's image and reputation through professional appearance and behavior.

Upkeep

Upkeep a professional and clean image.

Use

Use our mobile app as your schedule and booking tool.

Utilize

  • Utilize operational interactivity to comfortably connect with our customers.

  • Utilize the freedom to go beyond to take initiative to resolve guest complaints and create loyalty.

Welcome

Welcome customers and identify their preferences by asking pointed questions.

Work

  • Work along side and be trained by Celebrity Stylist / International Artist Wendy Belanger.

  • Work alongside the owner, John Donato.

  • Work authorization for this location is required.

  • Work in doors in a well-ventilated salon.

  • Work out of different locations.

  • Work weekends and are flexible with scheduling.

  • Work with a variety of different hair lengths, types, and textures.

  • Work with brand new tools and stations.

  • Work with hairpieces / extensions.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Hair Stylist:

  1. Hair cutting techniques, including layering, texturizing, and blending.

  2. Proficiency in various hair coloring techniques, such as highlights, balayage, and ombre.

  3. Knowledge of different hair types and textures, and their appropriate treatments.

  4. Expertise in using styling tools like curling irons, straighteners, and hot rollers.

  5. Hair extension application and maintenance.

  6. Knowledge of chemical treatments like relaxers, perms, and keratin treatments.

  7. Proficiency in using salon equipment, including hair dryers, diffusers, and heat lamps.

  8. Experience with different hair product lines and their specific uses.

  9. Updo and formal styling techniques for special occasions.

  10. Proficiency in using hairdressing scissors, razors, and clippers.

  11. Hair and scalp analysis for personalized treatment recommendations.

  12. Understanding of color theory and its application to hair coloring.

  13. Hair health assessment and treatment recommendations.

  14. Knowledge of sanitation and sterilization practices for salon tools and equipment.

  15. Proficiency in blow-drying techniques for various styles and hair types.

  16. Experience with chemical straightening and relaxing treatments.

  17. Skill in creating and applying hair masks, deep conditioners, and other treatments.

  18. Precision in executing intricate braiding and weaving techniques.

  19. Experience with men's grooming, including haircuts and beard trims.

  20. Proficiency in using thermal styling tools like curling wands and flat irons.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Hair Stylist:

  1. Excellent communication skills to understand clients' needs and provide guidance.

  2. Active listening to ensure clear comprehension of clients' desired styles.

  3. Creativity and artistic flair to design unique and appealing hairstyles.

  4. Patience and attention to detail in performing complex hair treatments.

  5. Interpersonal skills to build rapport and establish trust with clients.

  6. Time management abilities to effectively handle multiple appointments.

  7. Flexibility to adapt to clients' preferences and changing trends.

  8. Problem-solving skills to address any hair-related issues or challenges.

  9. Empathy and emotional intelligence to handle clients' concerns or dissatisfaction.

  10. Professionalism and a positive attitude to create a pleasant salon environment.

Conclusion

Becoming a skilled Hair Stylist requires a combination of technical expertise, creativity, and excellent customer service. By mastering the main responsibilities and acquiring the essential hard and soft skills, Hair Stylists can excel in their profession and provide exceptional hair services to their clients.

Stay on top of the sports job market!

Subscribe to our newsletter