Crafting a CV that effectively highlights your creative flair and technical hairdressing skills can be quite the conundrum. Our guide offers tailored advice to showcase your expertise in a way that will capture the attention of salon managers, ensuring your talents shine through every section of your application.
- Answer job requirements with your hairdresser CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your hairdresser CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
How complex should the format of your hairdresser CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your hairdresser CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a hairdresser CV
- Professional Summary to captivate attention immediately.
- Hairdressing Qualifications for verifying technical skills.
- Relevant Work Experience to showcase practical expertise.
- Key Hairdressing Skills to highlight specialised abilities.
- Customer Service Experience to demonstrate client handling.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your proficiency with a range of cutting, styling, and colouring techniques, showcasing a diverse skill set that caters to varying client needs and current trends.
- Give details about any specialised training and certifications, such as courses in barbering, colour theory, or extensions, to show continuous professional development.
- Mention your experience with sales and advice on hair care products, emphasising your ability to drive retail revenue and provide bespoke recommendations to clients.
- Showcase your customer service skills by mentioning any accolades or positive feedback received from clients, indicating your commitment to exceptional client experiences.
- Include any creative works or participation in events such as fashion shows, photoshoots, or charity events, demonstrating your passion and engagement with the creative aspects of hairdressing.
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Making a good first impression with your hairdresser CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for hairdresser:
- Senior Stylist | Creative Colour Specialist | NVQ Level 3 | 10+ Years Experience | Salon Management
- Junior Hairdresser | Apprenticeship Trained | Passion for Updos & Styling | Customer Service Oriented
- Master Barber | Men's Grooming Expert | Traditional & Modern Techniques | 15 Years Honing Craft
- Artistic Director | Innovative Cutting Expert | Award-Winning Styles | Session Work | Educator
- Advanced Technician | Precision Cutting | L'Oréal Colour Degree | Bridal Hair Enthusiast | 8 Years in Industry
- Hairdressing Professional | Balayage & Ombre Specialist | Exceptional Client Care | Building Stylist Brand
Opting between a hairdresser CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your hairdresser CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a hairdresser job:
- With over 10 years of experience in prestigious London salons, this seasoned hairdresser has perfected techniques in cutting, colouring, and styling. Mastery of modern trends, combined with the biggest achievement of winning the 2020 National Hair Styling Award, underlines a commitment to excellence in hairdressing.
- Passionate about hair design, possessing 5 years of experience at a top Parisian salon. Adept in balayage, precision cutting, and bridal updos, having notably transformed a public figure’s image with a signature cut that garnered media attention and client acclaim.
- Formerly a creative makeup artist, with a natural flair for visual arts and 8 years of experience, transitioning to hairdressing to leverage exceptional colour theory skills. Eager to combine beauty expertise to create holistic style transformations for clients.
- Certified in graphic design and with an eye for detail, this career-switcher aspires to bring 7 years of client-facing experience and a unique artistic approach to the hairdressing industry. Excited about combining technical skills with learned precision cutting techniques to craft stunning hair visuals.
- Aspiring to dive into the world of professional hairdressing, bringing a fresh perspective and a profound eagerness to learn and grow under esteemed mentors. Objective is to develop and hone skills in cutting, styling, and colouring while contributing vibrant energy to a dynamic salon team.
- Keen to embark on a hairdressing career with a focus on client satisfaction and creative expression. With no prior experience but a deep-seated passion for the craft, the objective is to acquire hands-on expertise and ultimately excel in delivering innovative hair solutions.
How to meet job requirements with your hairdresser CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Provided expert hair cutting, styling, and colouring services to a diverse clientele, consistently receiving high satisfaction ratings and positive feedback.
- Performed in-depth client consultations to understand their needs and preferences, resulting in personalised and satisfactory hair solutions.
- Maintained a thorough understanding of the latest hair trends and techniques by attending regular training sessions and industry workshops.
- Implemented effective client retention strategies, including follow-up appointments and loyalty programmes, contributing to a 30% increase in repeat business.
- Demonstrated exceptional skill in hair treatment application, such as keratin smoothing and deep conditioning, ensuring optimal hair health and client satisfaction.
- Managed salon inventory and product orders, ensuring the availability of necessary supplies while keeping costs under control.
- Collaborated seamlessly with other stylists and salon staff to provide high-quality service and maintain a positive working environment.
- Utilised strong time-management skills to handle a busy appointment schedule, reducing client wait times and maximising efficiency.
- Contributed creative ideas for salon marketing and promotions, leading to a significant increase in new clients and overall salon revenue.
- Increased salon revenue by 25% through the implementation of a new organic product line and upselling techniques.
- Managed a team of six stylists, providing them with continuous training which improved overall customer satisfaction levels by 40%.
- Spearheaded the salon's social media campaign which attracted 500+ new clients within a six-month period.
- Developed an innovative hair coloring technique that was featured in 'UK Hair and Beauty' magazine, enhancing salon prestige.
- Introduced a successful loyalty program that retained over 60% of new customers.
- Collaborated with product suppliers to curate a signature salon product range, which accounted for 15% of monthly sales.
- Achieved an average customer satisfaction rating of 95% through meticulous attention to detail and excellent communication skills.
- Completed 1500+ haircuts and styling sessions, developing a strong returning customer base.
- Contributed to a 20% increase in salon bookings by participating in local community events and showcasing our services.
- Initiated a mobile hairstyling service catering to the elderly, which resulted in an average of 30 appointments per month.
- Collaborated with a local theatre production company as the lead hair stylist for their season, ensuring all cast members were stage-ready.
- Built a strong freelance clientele through word-of-mouth advertising, highlighting customer-centric services and flexibility.
- Pioneered a hair coloring workshop within the salon which contributed to a 30% increase in color services uptake.
- Performed an average of 200+ color services per quarter, consistently receiving high praise for color matching and technique.
- Organized quarterly staff training in new coloring methods, keeping the salon at the forefront of industry trends.
- Received commendations for outstanding performance from the lead stylist during the apprenticeship, fast-tracking to a full-time role.
- Assisted in boosting salon efficiency by 20% through optimizing appointment scheduling and reducing customer wait times.
- Contributed to customer outreach efforts, establishing a presence at local events which increased salon visibility significantly.
- Introduced a comprehensive consultation process to better understand client needs, leading to increased repeat business.
- Designed a seasonal hair trend lookbook for clients, positioning the salon as a trendsetter in the local market.
- Mentored junior stylists and provided hands-on training, creating a knowledgeable and unified team.
- Expertly applied 300+ hair extensions, becoming the salon's go-to person for extension consultations and services.
- Boosted sales in extensions and related products by 35%, securing a large portion of the local market share.
- Organized monthly skill upgrade sessions for the team, which helped cross-train staff and enhance the menu of services.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your hairdresser CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your hairdresser CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your hairdresser CV:
Hair Cutting Techniques
Hair Colouring and Highlighting
Chemical Treatments
Hairstyling and Updos
Blow Drying Techniques
Hair Extension Application
Scalp Treatments
Barbering Skills
Knowledge of Hair Products
Sanitation and Sterilization
Customer Service
Creativity
Time management
Attention to detail
Active Listening
Problem Solving
Adaptability
Teamwork
Salesmanship
Patience
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Listing your university education and certificates on your hairdresser CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Your successful job application depends on how you well you have aligned your hairdresser CV to the job description and portrayed your best skills and traits. Make sure to:
- Select your CV format, so that it ensures your experience is easy to read and understand;
- Include your professional contact details and a link to your portfolio, so that recruiters can easily get in touch with you and preview your work;
- Write a CV summary if you happen to have more relevant professional experience. Meanwhile, use the objective to showcase your career dreams and ambitions;
- In your CV experience section bullets, back up your individual skills and responsibilities with tangible achievements;
- Have a healthy balance between hard and soft skills to answer the job requirements and hint at your unique professional value.
