Your hair stylist resume must prove you have the skills and knowledge necessary to meet or exceed client expectations. Potential employers like salon owners, managers, event planners, and photographers should be confident in your ability to listen to the desires and goals of the people in your chair. We’ll provide expert tips to help style a resume that shows you can enhance the appearance and boost the confidence of your clients.
Similar to how a good haircut frames the face, a well-structured resume highlights your most compelling career achievements. Starting with a basic resume template will save you time and give you a solid base to work with. Your hair stylist resume should include these sections:
List all of your best contact information at the top of your resume to make it effortless for potential employers to reach you for more information or to set up an interview for a hair stylist position. Provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to any online professional profiles or portfolios. Ensure your information is error-free, professional, and easy to read.
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
The profile of your hair stylist resume should give a brief, compelling description of your professional persona. In a few sentences, summarize your years of experience, key skills, and any relevant specialties. Consider what salon owners and managers are looking for in a hair stylist, and include key information that shows you can meet their unique needs.
Versatile licensed cosmetologist and BarberSAFE Certified Professional with over five years of experience in a salon setting, specializing in children’s hair care. Partners with clients and their parents to deliver quality haircuts, coloring, and styles. Consistently maintains client satisfaction scores of at least 95% and has repeatedly earned “stylist of the quarter.”
To show you have the technical competence and interpersonal skills to excel as a hair stylist, create a list of your most relevant professional abilities. Include examples of both hard and soft skills that match up with those listed in the job posting. Demonstrate you’re up-to-date with the latest hair care techniques and can handle various hair textures, styles, and client requests.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Balayage | Active listening |
Blowouts | Communication |
Chemical treatment | Creativity |
Color correction | Customer focus |
Extensions | Empathy |
Hygiene and sanitation | Multitasking |
Razor cutting | Organization |
Scalp treatments | Reliability |
Texturing | Teamwork and collaboration |
Trend analysis | Time management |
It can be a challenge to describe your work history without sounding repetitive and vague, but action verbs can help you clearly articulate your past job descriptions. Start each bullet point of the professional experience section with one of these dynamic words. This will help to frame your everyday duties as accomplishments and show you were an active member of the salon or styling team. Use action verbs like the ones below to polish up your hair stylist resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Advised | Applied |
Colored | Created |
Designed | Educated |
Enhanced | Maintained |
Managed | Recommended |
Sculpted | Styled |
Supervised | Transformed |
Updated |
When outlining your past experience as a hair stylist, pinpoint those moments that best demonstrate your talents. Start with your most recent job first, providing details on your daily duties and any notable accomplishments that improved efficiency or increased client satisfaction. Give examples of any specializations, skills, or technical knowledge relevant to the job.
Little Locks Haircuts for Kids, Denver, CO
December 2021 – present
Hair Stylist, Ulta Beauty, Denver, CO
June 2018 – November 2021
In the same way layers and highlights add dimension to your client’s hair, numbers add depth and clarity to your professional history. Quantifying your responsibilities and achievements helps to show the direct impact of your work. Discuss things like how many clients you see each day, a percentage improvement you made in sales, or an increase in repeat customers.
The job outlook for barbers, hair stylists, and cosmetologists is bright, with a projected 8% increase in new opportunities over the next decade. Tailoring your resume is a strategic move to stand out from other hair stylists and compete for top jobs. Each employer will have its own unique needs and requirements, and your goal is to show how you meet them.
Before submitting your resume, do your homework on the organization you’re applying for. Get to know the services they offer and the clientele they serve. This will help you identify where you align with their needs, allowing you to adjust your resume accordingly. Include keywords and phrases throughout your document to highlight how you’re the best hair stylist for the job.
Whether you went to cosmetology school or studied as an apprentice, your education is your biggest asset. For entry-level hair stylists, starting your resume with an overview of your academic history and a list of key skills is a great strategy. Describe the hands-on experience, technical knowledge, and interpersonal skills gained during this time.
If you’ve done volunteer work or styled hair for your friends and family, this time honing your skills is just as valuable and you can include it. Beyond your hair-specific endeavors, use any customer service or sales experience to your advantage. Working with customers in any setting provides an opportunity to learn about things like communication, upselling, and teamwork.
If you attended a beauty institute, list this first and provide details on where and when you attended. Follow this with your highest level of education, including the degree or diploma name, dates of attendance, and name of the school.
To work legally as a hair stylist, you must obtain a state license before you can take on any clients. Remember to provide information on your license and any further certifications or training that could set you apart from other hair stylists.
Associate of Arts (A.A) Business Administration, August 2013 – May 2015
Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
Certifications
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Versatile licensed cosmetologist and BarberSAFE Certified Professional with over five years of experience in a salon setting, specializing in children’s hair care. Partners with clients and their parents to deliver quality haircuts, coloring, and styles. Consistently maintains client satisfaction scores of at least 95% and has repeatedly earned “stylist of the quarter.”
Little Locks Haircuts for Kids, Denver, CO
December 2021 – present
Hair Stylist, Ulta Beauty, Denver, CO
June 2018 – November 2021
Cosmetology Diploma, August 2016 – June 2017
Aveda Institute, Denver, CO
Associate of Arts (A.A) Business Administration, August 2013 – May 2015
Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
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