Top 10 Trades

Career Profiles Regionally

Hairdressers

What’s It Like?

Whether they’re called hairdressers, hair stylists or cosmetologists, they perform a variety of duties. They shampoo, condition, cut, style, curl, perm, relax, bleach and colour different types of hair.

Hairdressers may:
  • Perform manicures and/or pedicures
  • Give massages (for relaxation only)
  • Cleanse or enhance the attractiveness of the scalp, face, neck, arms, chest or feet of a person
  • Clean and style wigs, hairpieces and extensions

In order to be successful in this field, we recommend prospective hairdressers have these physical and mental abilities associated with working in a professional salon:

  • sincere interest in performing personal services
  • Creative ability and manual dexterity
  • Physically fit and able to stand all day
  • Strong and efficient organizational skills
  • Good hand-eye coordination
  • Normal colour vision and good depth perception
  • Ability to plan and work independently

Money & Benefits

Salaries vary widely as they reflect individual talent, however, once clientele is established, hairdressers may earn 50% commission. Some may wish to rent a chair in an established salon for a monthly fee and keep all proceeds. Still others choose to start their own businesses. Regardless of the way hairstylists earn their living, gratuities or “tips” are one of the benefits of this career choice. These amounts vary widely depending on circumstances.

Why We’re Betting on This

  • Local labour market research supports the current demand for trained hairdressers in the central Vancouver Island region (there are seventy salons in the Nanaimo area alone)
  • According to local salon owners, there is a fairly high turn-over rate in this trade, as specialized stylists move to bigger centres in order to constantly stay on top of trends
  • After working in the industry for a time, many hairdressers decide to go into business for themselves in order to be more flexible with family commitments, creating openings at the salons they leave
  • Hairdressing offers part or full time opportunities year-round
  • Hairdressers tend to love their work

Interested? Where To Start

Educational Requirements

The Industry Training Authority (ITA) recommends that all candidates have equivalent to Grade 10 education. However, individual training institutions may have varying program pre-requisites, including, but not limited to:

  • Minimum 17 years of age
  • Grade 12 or equivalent, or mature student status
  • Math and/or reading and/or trades aptitude test

Although not mandatory in BC, many prospective hairdressers choose to complete a formal apprenticeship as a cosmetologist and receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship through the ITA. This certification could give them the competitive edge they need to secure employment in the more prestigious establishments.

Educational Institutions

Malaspina University-College

www.mala.ca/hairdressing

Vancouver Island Professional School of Hair & Esthetics

www.vipschool.ca

Success Stories

Interviewed & Documented

PROOF of the abundance of Jobs in the Hairdressers Industry

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VI Employers

Hairdressers

Discover LOCAL island employers & types of skills they're seeking...

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Our Top 10

Trades & Technologies

How OUR Central Vancouver Island choices made the top 10 list

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