Hairdressing or beauty salon manager or proprietor - requirements

Hairdressing or beauty salon managers or proprietors plan, organise and coordinate the daily activities of salons. Learn more about this role, how your career might develop and what you can study or do to help you get a job.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

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What qualifications do you need to be a hairdressing or beauty salon manager or proprietor?

You can get started in this field without formal qualifications, but a degree in one of the following subjects could help you access management level positions:

It’s typical for professionals in this field to complete vocational or college level courses in certain areas. These include level 2 or 3 diplomas in hairdressing or beauty therapy; T-Level in hair, beauty and aesthetics; a general qualification in retail, sales or customer service; and a general qualification in management or administration.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a hairdressing or beauty salon manager or proprietor?

Postgraduate qualifications aren’t typically needed for this type of role.

What skills do you need to be a hairdressing or beauty salon manager or proprietor?

Business management and people skills will be important for success in this career, along with skills in hair and beauty techniques.

Hard skills usually include:
  • Accounting
  • Beauty therapy or hairdressing
  • Business management
  • Performance review
  • Stock control
Soft skills include:
  • Communication
  • Customer service
  • Management
  • Operations
  • Organisation

Do you need work experience to be a hairdressing or beauty salon manager or proprietor?

It’s a good idea to get experience at a hairdressing or beauty salon to help you get a feel for the workplace. Experience is especially useful when applying for management roles or stylist roles at popular salons. You might start by getting a job in an assistant role, keeping the salon clean and tidy and helping other staff.

Experience in business management or admin will also be useful, even if it’s in a different industry, along with customer service.

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