- Hairdresser
- Colourist
- Hair Stylist
Help people look and feel their best and build in-demand skills for a rewarding new career. Start now by studying a hairdressing course.
You’re interested in health, beauty and wellness, and want an exciting job working with people. Turn your natural talents into a rewarding new career by studying a hairdressing course.
Performing hair styling and applying hair treatments, hairdressers work closely with clients to create the looks they want and to help them feel their best. In a hairdressing course, you’ll learn the essential foundational knowledge and practical skills required to work successfully as a hairdresser and carve out a rewarding new career in an exciting, people-focused industry.
The Australian Government’s Department of Employment predicts the hairdressing profession will expand by 10 per cent over the next few years, creating thousands of new jobs for qualified professionals. With a hairdressing qualification, you’ll build the skills and experience required to stand out in a competitive market.
By studying a hairdressing course, you’ll learn the essentials of hairdressing statutory and occupational health and safety compliance, and learn how to apply a broad range of hair treatments and cutting and styling techniques to diverse types of hair. You’ll complete your training in a salon as an apprentice hair stylist, and will learn from experienced industry professionals.
With the qualification gained by completing a hairdressing course, you’ll demonstrate your proven skills, insights and abilities, and compete for rewarding and exciting hairdressing jobs in the sector. You may complete a hairdressing course as a certificate or diploma course or apprenticeship program. Job opportunities after completing a hairdressing course include working as a hairdresser or hair stylists in a salon or home environment.
If you care about people and are passionate about helping them to achieve their beauty and self-care goals, a hairdressing course is your next career step.
What do hairdressing graduates do?
Hairdressing course graduates work as hairdressers or hair stylists, applying a wide range of hair treatments and techniques to clients. As a hairdresser, you can expect to perform tasks like:
- Consulting with clients, asking questions, and recording client histories and previous treatments;
- Providing advice on hair care, beauty products and styles;
- Shampooing and conditioning scalps;
- Colouring, straightening and permanently waving hair with chemical solutions;
- Cutting, trimming and shaving hair;
- Styling hair into dreadlocks and braids;
- Adding and removing hair extensions;
- Shaving and trimming beards and moustaches;
- Applying hair treatments and recommending products;
- Cleaning work areas and sanitising instruments;
- Arranging appointments and collecting payments; and
- Performing general salon management and administrative tasks.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
You may choose to work from a salon or beauty practice, or work independently and attend clients in their homes. As your career progresses, you may also work in hair salon management and administration.
After completing your course you may seek employment as a:
- Hairdresser
- Colourist
- Hair Stylist
You’ll enjoy working as a hairdresser if you:
- Love working with people
- Are seeking practical, people-focused work
- Have strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Have strong time management and organisation skills
- Like solving problems
- Enjoy detailed work
- Can make sound decisions
- Have an interest in beauty and hair care
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook describes the hairdressing industry in Australia as a large and growing sector. Currently employing approximately 61,400 people, the industry has been growing at a modest rate for the past decade. However, job opportunities in the sector are expected to grow significantly in the next decade, with Job Outlook predicting approximately 67,200 people will be employed as hairdressers in Australia by 2020, with the profession growing by nearly 10 per cent.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that a hairdresser may expect to earn between $31,000 and $55,000 per year, at an annual average salary of approximately $46,000, or an average hourly rate of approximately $21.
While entry-level hairdressers can expect to earn a competitive annual salary of approximately $42,000 per year, PayScale notes that practitioners with more experience earn higher salaries. Hairdressers in Australia with more than 20 years of professional experience can expect to earn on average approximately $49,000 per year. PayScale notes that approximately one in three hairdressers has more than 20 years of experience, indicating that people tend to remain in the profession for the duration of their career.