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Hairstylists and Barbers

NOC 6271

Introduction

Hairstylists and barbers cut and style hair and perform related services.

Note: Each Essential Skills task is followed by a number in brackets, e.g. (2), which is the estimated complexity level for that task. Tasks are assigned levels, ranging from Level 1 (basic task) to Levels 4 or 5 (advanced task), and are listed in increasing order of complexity. The complexity levels may vary based on the requirements of the workplace.

Reading

Read instructions, precautions and other short text entries on labels, product inserts, customers’ history cards and forms, such as supplier invoices, e.g. read instructions on labels for maintaining, sanitizing and disinfecting equipment. (1)
Read descriptions of new products in catalogues and brochures, e.g. read brochures describing how the use of ceramic hair dryers will improve the appearance of hair. (2)
Read comment cards and letters, e.g. read comment cards written by customers to learn their opinions about the services and products they purchased. (2)
May read short memos, notices and bulletins, e.g. read notices outlining changes to prices, hours of work and housekeeping procedures. (2)
May read manuals to learn about policies and procedures, e.g. read policy manuals that describe dress codes, hours of work and practices to ensure cleanliness. (3)
Read articles on websites and in trade magazines to stay informed about industry trends and developments, e.g. self‑employed hairstylists and barbers read articles on the Internet to learn about pricing strategies. (3)
May read regulations, chair‑rental contracts and agreements outlining salaries and commissions, e.g. self‑employed hairstylists and barbers working out of private residences read city bylaws to determine licensing requirements and allowable business practices. (4)

Document Use

Locate information contained on labels, e.g. scan labels on product packaging to learn about ingredients, storage techniques and safety hazards. (1)
Complete a variety of forms, e.g. enter operating data, such as number of clients served, in monthly business summary forms. (1)
May view procedures described in line‑art diagrams and photograph sequences, e.g. scan a series of line art diagrams to learn how to reproduce hairstyles by dividing and cutting sections of hair at different lengths and angles. (2)
Review specifications on colour charts and tables to locate product names, identification numbers, processing times and mixing ratios for peroxides and colouring agents. (3)

Writing

Write reminders and short notes, e.g. write short notes to co‑workers to explain special orders. (1)
Write short reminder notes and comments on customer history cards, e.g. write notes to record events, such as problems with hair colouring dyes, on customer history cards. (1)
May write letters and updates, e.g. may write letters and updates to inform customers about special promotions and upcoming fashion shows. (2)
May write information on website blogs and forums, e.g. write blogs to exchange ideas about fashion trends with other hairstylists and barbers. (2)
May write letters to suppliers and manufacturers expressing opinions about specific products and services. (2)

Numeracy

May make payments for supplies, such as shampoos and conditioners, using purchase orders, cash and credit cards. (1)
Measure amounts of fluids, such as colouring solutions, peroxides and disinfectants, using graduated beakers and tubes. (1)
Compare measurements of time, temperature and fluid volume to specifications outlined in product information sheets and colour charts. (1)
Estimate length of hair being cut. They use their fingers, combs and clipper guards as approximate guides to determine lengths. (1)
May prepare bills and collect cash, debit and credit card payments for hairstyling and related services. They charge set rates for the services performed and add applicable taxes, such as the goods and services tax (GST). (2)
May schedule appointments of varying lengths to accommodate customers and minimize slack time. They choose dates, times and intervals between appointments to ensure sufficient time is available to complete scheduled services and minimize down time. (2)
May reconcile cash floats and prepare financial summaries. They separate, count and record cash and credit receipts. They calculate totals for deposit slips and closeout books. (2)
Reconcile payments and commissions received from salon owners to their financial records. (2)
Estimate the requirements for supplies, such as shampoos and conditioners. Factors include current inventory levels and the number of customers they expect to serve. (2)
Estimate the amount of time it will take to complete appointments. They consider the services being delivered, the condition of hair, times specified on product information sheets and the amount of time previously needed for similar tasks. (2)

Oral Communication

Greet customers in person, listen to voicemail messages and respond to questions over the telephone. (1)
Talk with customers about a wide variety of topics, e.g. discuss fashion trends with customers and the hairstyle choices best suited to their facial features and lifestyle preferences. (2)
Exchange information with helpers, co‑workers, suppliers and supervisors, e.g. instruct apprentices in how to wash hair and use equipment, such as hair straightening tools and blow dryers. (2)
May participate in staff meetings, e.g. speak with other hairstylists and barbers about product trends and matters relating to customer service during staff meetings. (2)
May talk with distressed and unsatisfied customers to provide reassurance and resolve conflicts, e.g. reassure and calm distressed customers with badly damaged hair by explaining hair restoration procedures. (3)

Thinking

Fall behind schedule because of delays created by late and double‑booked customers. They apologize to customers inconvenienced by delays and request help from co‑workers to get back on schedule. (1)
Select the tools and products required to create specific hairstyles. They select from a variety of tools, such as electric clippers, rollers and styling irons, and products, such as colouring agents, peroxides, shampoos and conditioners, to create various hairstyles. (1)
Judge the performance of hair‑care products, such as colouring agents, shampoos and conditioners, by considering the effects these products have on customers’ hair. (1)
Discover that customers have contagious skin and hair conditions. They speak with customers to determine the seriousness of their conditions and may ask them to leave to avoid infecting others. They then sanitize and disinfect equipment and tools that may have been contaminated. (2)
Discover that customers are dissatisfied with the services they have received. They talk to customers to determine the source of the dissatisfaction.
They may re‑cut, re‑colour and re‑style hair as requested. (2)
Find that chemical treatments result in unexpected hair colours. After consoling the customer, they use peroxides to remove the unwanted colour and then apply colouring agents and special conditioners to obtain the desired colours and minimize hair damage. They offer the customer price discounts or free products and note the incidents in the customer’s history card. (2)
Choose methods to repair and colour chemically damaged hair. They consider customers’ hairstyles, colour preferences and hair condition when choosing products that would be most restorative. (2)
Decide how to modify hairstyles to meet a customer’s needs and expectations. They consider customer preferences and how hairstyles can be modified to complement facial features and skin tones. (2)
Evaluate the condition of hair and scalps to determine treatment and hairstyle options. They evaluate the health and condition of hair by observing features, such as the hair porosity, elasticity, density and texture. They assess the condition of scalps by noting cuts, abrasions and signs of psoriasis or head lice. (2)
Judge the suitability of customers’ hairstyle choices. They consider bone structure, facial shape, hair growth pattern, ear and nose size, skin tone and eye colour. (2)
May assess the competence and attitudes of helpers and apprentices. They observe the worker’s technical skills, efficiency and attitude when interacting with co‑workers and customers. (2)
Organize their daily activities to accommodate scheduled and walk‑in customers. Hairstylists and barbers who work in larger salons and retail chains do not normally schedule their own appointments. They accept customers without appointments as time permits. Self‑employed stylists organize their own appointments. Hairstylists and barbers occasionally experience scheduling disruptions when customers arrive late or when they are double‑booked, but generally they are able to get back on schedule within a short period of time. Their tasks are generally repetitive in nature. (2)
Locate specifications, such as application times, colour codes, grey coverage and ingredients, by scanning product labels, packaging and information posted on manufacturers’ websites and by talking with suppliers and other hairstylists and barbers. (2)
Find information about fashion and fashion trends by observing hairstyles worn by models, musicians and actors and by talking with suppliers and other hairstylists and barbers. (2)
Locate information about customers, such as their hairstyle and colour preferences and the names and ages of their children, by asking them questions and reviewing customer history cards. (2)
May set fees for services, such as colouring, perms, cuts and styling. They consider the fees charged by competing hairstylists and barbers and factors, such as the location of their salon, the size of their existing customer base and the number of walk‑in clients they get. (3)

Digital Technology

Use text messaging software to confirm appointments with customers. (1)
May use calculators and personal digital assistant (PDA) devices to complete numeracy‑related tasks, such as calculating material requirements. (1)
May use word processing software to write letters and produce promotional material, such as signs. (2)
May use salon‑management software to input customer and product data and to query inventory quantities, upcoming appointments and customer names, phone numbers and hairstyle preferences. (2)
May use salon‑management software to input and track sales and commissions and to produce and print reports, such as payment method summaries, product sales summaries and income and expense statements. (2)
Use communications software to send and receive email confirming customers’ appointments. (2)
May use Internet browsers and search engines to access websites operated by suppliers and product manufacturers. (2)
May use Internet browsers to research fashion trends and products, such as shampoos and conditioners. (2)
May use the Internet to access blogs and Web forums where they seek and offer advice about fashion trends and hairstyling issues. (2)
May use the Internet to access social media tools that allow them to share information and photographs with colleagues and customers. (2)
May use the Internet to access training courses and seminars offered by apprenticeship trainers, suppliers and employers. (2)
May use digital cameras and software applications to take and upload digital photographs onto websites, including social media sites. (2)
May operate point‑of‑sale equipment, such as electronic cash registers, bar scanners, scales and touch‑screens. (2)
May use advanced features in computer‑assisted‑design (CAD) programs to create images of what hairstyles could look like. (3)

Additional Information

Other Essential Skills:

Working with Others

Hairstylists and barbers work independently to carry out their tasks. In larger salons, they may work with receptionists and helpers who provide support within established work routines.

Continuous Learning

Continuous learning is very important to hairstylists and barbers because they need to be familiar with changing hairstyles and new products, such as organic shampoos, conditioners and colouring agents. They learn about style trends by reading articles and analyzing photographs in trade, general interest and fashion magazines, noting hairstyles worn by style leaders, such as celebrities. They also learn by talking with co‑workers and colleagues and by participating in training offered by major product suppliers. Hairstylists and barbers who work in larger salons and shops may receive regularly scheduled in‑house training.

Impact of Digital Technology

All essential skills are affected by the introduction of technology in the workplace. Hairstylists and barbers’ ability to adapt to new technologies is strongly related to their skill levels across the essential skills, including reading, writing, thinking and communication skills. Technologies are transforming the ways in which workers obtain, process and communicate information, and the types of skills needed to perform in their jobs. For example, the use of point-of-sale equipment, specialized salon management software and computer-assisted design (CAD) programs is reshaping how hairstylists and barbers perform their work. The ongoing development of new product and data management systems requires workers to keep their digital skills up-to-date.

Technology in the workplace further affects the complexity of tasks related to the essential skills required for this occupation. Workers need the skills to use increasingly complex software applications, such as salon management software and computer-assisted design (CAD) programs. At the same time, software and hardware developers are improving ease of use for workers through touch-screen technology, built-in self-help tutorials and more user-friendly software applications. In addition, the use of electronic databases and keyword search functions makes it easier to locate product information, such as prices and inventory counts. For example, with calculators, personal digital assistant devices (PDAs) and point-of-sale equipment, workers can quickly and accurately calculate bills or determine the amount of change to provide on cash transactions.