What's it Like to be a Barber - Training, Education, & Job Overview

Barbers are professionals highly skilled in the cutting and dressing of hair, particular the locks of male clients, and also expert in shaving and trimming beards, mustaches, and other masculine hair features. The career is most frequently grouped with cosmetologists and other personal appearance workers. Some barbers may tout additional expertise in fitting hairpieces and toupees for their clients. Scalp treatments and light massage may be another possible expectation for barbers' service offerings. Many states grant licenses to barbers to bleach, highlight, or color the hair of their clients, and providing perms too.

Barbers often provide a wide range of services and might be train to administer nail and skin care treatments as additional assets of their repertoire. Full time, 40-hour weeks of work are not uncommon for barbers, and many of these professionals also work overtime during particularly busy times. Evenings and weekends, most amenable to the schedules of most clients, are oftentimes barbers' prime working hours. Many barbers are self-employed, and nearly 30 percent of all barbers work part-time hours. 

Typical job tasks will include:

• Discussing Hairstyle Options with Clients
• Washing Hair
• Conditioning Hair
• Dyeing Hair
• Cutting Hair (including trims and full-blown hairstyle changes)

• Drying Hair
• Styling Hair (including post-haircut and specialty hairstyles for weddings or special events)
• Recommending Products to Clients to Improve Hair and Scalp Health
• Getting Payment from Clients
• Cleaning and Maintaining a Sanitary Work Station

In addition to the typical daily duties of a barber or hairstylist, each professional will also be responsible for maintaining the tools needed at their individual station or booth at the salon they work at. Depending on the salon, you may be required to purchase some or all of these items on your own. Some tools that are needed are:

• Scissors
• Clippers
• Combs
• Hairbrushes
• Bobby Pins and Hair Clips
• Blow Dryer

• Curling Iron
• Flat Iron
• Hair Colors and Dyes
• Mixing Bowls for Dyes
• Sanitary Products

With the use of tools and training, a barber and hairstylist becomes a trusted partner for most people that regularly visit hair salons and barbershops for a haircut. They put a lot of trust into their hairstylist to know what they like done to their hair and expect their stylist to remember what works best each time they return.

In order to work as a licensed barber, one must first earn a high school diploma. In a few states, this is all that is needed in order to qualify for the proper licensing. Many states, however, demand that students attend a cosmetology or barber school that has been licensed by the state. Gaining this formal education is beneficial not only for the professional training, but also for the potential of business and marketing courses being offered to bolster students' business sense and entrepreneurial acumen. Licensing is specific to each state, and frequently includes written, oral, and practical components. Reputation and experience dictate the scale of this pay, buy there is an amazing job outlook for barbers, along with other cosmetology professionals, offering plentiful employment opportunities into the future.

Workplace and Pay

Most barbers and hairstylists will work in a hair or beauty salon or in a barbershop. Other work spaces include at luxury spas and resorts that offer hairstyling services to their guests and other walk-in clients. For the most part, the work environment is pleasant as a majority of salons offer a nice experience to guests. Employees at these salons and barbershops can expect nice lighting and inviting decor.

It's important to know that both barbers and hairstylists spend a majority, if not all, of their day on their feet. You'll need to be in good shape and should wear comfortable shoes to maintain a healthy work environment for an extended period of time.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, barbers and hairstylists make an average hourly wage between $10 and $11. In May of 2010, the median annual wages for barbers was $11.45 and it was $10.94 for hairdressers and hairstylists. The occupation is expected to grow 14 percent through 2020, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. 

Colleges Offering Barbering Programs:

Users on our site request information for barbering programs from these 5 schools the most. Programs include a barbering and cosmetology combination, hair design, salon management, and general barbering programs.