Hairdresser and Apprentice Hairdresser CV: Tips and Examples

Independent salons, chains, high-end studios, mobile hairdressing, hospitals and care homes: hairdressers are in demand almost everywhere, and salons recruit all year round. To stand out, your CV needs to show your techniques, qualifications and customer service skills at a glance. Whether you are an experienced stylist or looking for your first apprenticeship, here is how to write a hairdresser CV that gets you an interview.

Choose the right job title

Be specific: your job title should match the advert and reflect your level. Depending on your profile:

  • Hairdresser / Hair Stylist
  • Senior Stylist
  • Colourist / Colour Technician
  • Mobile Hairdresser
  • Salon Manager
  • Apprentice Hairdresser / Junior Stylist
  • Barber

Below your job title, add a short personal profile of two or three lines. Example: "Qualified hairdresser with 6 years' experience in a busy unisex salon, specialising in colour and balayage. Friendly, reliable and passionate about creating looks clients love."

Skills to include on a hairdresser CV

Technical skills

  • Shampooing and conditioning treatments
  • Women's, men's and children's cuts
  • Blow-drying, styling and straightening
  • Colouring, highlights, balayage and ombré
  • Perming and relaxing
  • Bridal and occasion hair, updos
  • Beard trimming and shaving (barbering)
  • Hair and scalp consultations, patch and strand tests

Customer service skills

  • Welcoming clients and listening to their needs
  • Advising on cuts and colours to suit face shape and lifestyle
  • Recommending and selling retail products
  • Building a loyal client base

Salon operations

  • Bookings and diary management (online booking software)
  • Handling payments
  • Stock control and product ordering
  • Health, safety and hygiene standards
  • Photographing work for the salon's social media

Personal qualities

Creativity, attention to detail, a polished appearance, good hand skills, stamina (you will be on your feet all day), punctuality and a positive attitude. Pick three or four that genuinely describe you.

Hairdressing qualifications

List your qualifications from most recent to oldest, with the training provider and the year. Qualification names vary from one country to another, so always use the official title:

  • United Kingdom: NVQ or VRQ Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing or Hair Services (City & Guilds, VTCT), or a Hair Professional apprenticeship.
  • United States: a state cosmetology licence, obtained after completing the required training hours and passing the state board exam. Include your licence number and state.
  • Australia: Certificate III in Hairdressing, usually completed through an apprenticeship.
  • Other countries: give the official name of your qualification and, if you are applying abroad, a short explanation of its level (for example, "two-year vocational diploma in hairdressing").

Short courses are worth mentioning too: brand colour training, barbering, bridal hair, extensions. They show you keep up with trends.

Describe your experience in detail

For each job, give the salon name, town, dates and the services you provided. Add figures where you can:

Hair Stylist, The Cutting Room, Manchester (2021–2025): cuts, colour and balayage; 10–12 clients per day; retail sales up 20%; trained two apprentices.

Also mention the type of setting: independent salon, chain, high-end salon, mobile hairdressing, care homes or hospitals, events, theatre or film.

Apprentice hairdresser CV: how to write it with no experience

Salons hiring an apprentice don't expect experience. They are looking for motivation, reliability and a good attitude. Your CV should show exactly that:

  • A clear title: "Apprentice Hairdresser – seeking Level 2 apprenticeship";
  • Your education: the qualification you are studying for or planning to start, and the college or training provider;
  • Work experience, even short placements or a Saturday job in a salon, with what you did: shampooing, greeting clients, keeping the salon tidy;
  • Your qualities: people skills, punctuality, eagerness to learn, an eye for fashion and trends;
  • Relevant interests: styling friends' and family's hair, following hair and beauty trends, fashion, make-up.

Always add a short, tailored cover letter explaining why you want to train at that particular salon. Dropping your CV off in person is still common practice in hairdressing, and it can make a real difference.

Should you add a photo?

It depends on the country. In the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia, leave the photo off: employers generally prefer CVs without one to avoid any risk of discrimination. Instead, show your style through a link to your portfolio. In much of continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, a professional photo is common and often expected, especially in an image-focused job like hairdressing.

Whichever applies, keep the layout clean and readable. A modern design with a touch of colour suits the industry. Send your CV as a PDF, or print it on good-quality paper if you are handing it in at the salon.

Hairdresser CV FAQs

Should I include photos of my work?

Yes, it's a real advantage. Add a link to your professional Instagram account or an online portfolio, as long as it is well curated and dedicated to your work.

How long should my CV be?

One page is plenty, whether you are an apprentice or an experienced stylist.

Is a CV the same as a résumé?

Almost. In the United States and Canada, the document is called a résumé and is usually printed on Letter-size paper rather than A4. The content and advice in this article apply in the same way.

How do I present a career change into hairdressing?

Put your hairdressing training first and highlight transferable skills from previous jobs: customer service, sales and teamwork.