How to Become a Hairstylist: Education, Licensing, & Starting a Career 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: On the hunt to learn how to become a hairstylist? Look no further – this guide walks you through the full path from education and licensing to building a clientele, growing your business on your own, and the must-know info about creating a thriving career for yourself.

Every job has its pros and cons – and we get that we might sound a little biased with what we’re about to say – but being a hairstylist is a pretty phenomenal gig. 

Think about it: you get to combine all the wonderful parts of a career! Running a business, working with people, and being an artist – it’s all beautifully blended into a single role. What’s better than a multifaceted, always exciting, life-changing career? Not much. 

If you, like so many others before you, have felt the pull of cosmetology – and specifically toward being a hairstylist – we’re thrilled to welcome you on this journey. If you’re feeling thrilled to begin your journey but aren’t sure how to become a hairstylist, we’ve got good news – this guide was made specifically for you! 

Read on, and we’ll dive in together to walk you through the full journey of becoming a hairstylist – from education and licensing to building your own thriving career.  

How to Become a Hairstylist: A Quick Overview 

While no two stylists' journeys are the exact same (how could they be?), the general path toward becoming a stylist is usually relatively traditional once you decide that’s what you’re doing. 

Your reasons might be unique, the choices that led you here might be one-of-a-kind, but once you decide to become a stylist and make the decision to pursue it, you’re bound by similar procedures to properly acquire your license and do business. 

Granted, every state has different requirements, hours, and mandates – but the idea is generally the same. Here’s a quick peek at the journey you can expect to take as a hairstylist on your way! 

• Attending & completing beauty school or certification programs 
• Passing your state licensing exam and meeting all of your state-mandated requirements
• Gaining experience through practice, shadowing, working with a mentor, or paying your dues at a salon or shop 
• Building your own experience, taking more CE classes, and creating a go-to list of loyal clientele over time 
• Letting your creativity and business savvy flourish to find your niche, create a special career, and discover the path in hairstyling that brings you joy, fulfills you, and makes you money

Why Become a Hairstylist in the First Place? 

If you feel the pull toward hairstyling (or cosmetology in general) but aren’t sure if it’s the right path for you, allow us to brag on the stylist life for a hot second.

There are all sorts of wild benefits that you can’t necessarily lean into in other types of gigs: 

• The only ceiling is the one you create: As in, there’s really no limit to what you can do, how you can do it, and the type of money you can make. The world of beauty and hairstyling is always evolving – the more CE you complete, the more you grow, and the better your skills get, the more opportunity for a higher income. And you don’t have to be a traditional hairstylist, either. You can be a TikTok content creator who specializes in hair styling; you can teach other hair stylists; you can run a mobile beauty business; you can specialize in events or weddings – and that’s just the bare minimum of possibilities. 
• Flexible hours, schedule, and lifestyle: We kind of just hinted at this, but you’re really only limited by what you want to be limited by. Even if you decide you’d love a traditional hairstylist gig in a traditional salon, you can still set very flexible hours – you can still create the schedule and lifestyle that fits you best. That’s a tough benefit to overlook. 
• People-first business built on relationships (that can’t be replaced): In a world that’s increasingly characterized by AI, digital marketing, and screens, being a stylist means taking up space in a world where people will always come first. Not only do you have the chance to work in the service industry, bond with people, and deepen relationships, you also can rest assured knowing that no robot is truly ever going to be able to do what you do. You help people in a hands-on way – and sure, maybe those nail robots are a quirky trend. But realistically, you cannot be replaced by technology – and that’s wildly cool job security in our tech-focused world. 

The Full Path: How to Become a Hairstylist 

Hairstylists’ Traditional Education Routes 

We want to make this very clear – you will need some kind of formal education to become a hairstylist. No, you don’t need a college degree (so don’t panic if college isn’t for you), but you will at least need to have a high school diploma, GED, or certificate that’s equivalent to those (in most cases). 

Sometimes, there are other options to bypass those requirements, too. For example, some states allow apprentice programs where people as young as 16 can get the professional experience they need to start their journey. 

Primary education is the first step, but you’ll also have to attend a state-approved cosmetology school or trade-school-associated program. These facilities are set up specifically for people like you who know what they’re after – it’s not like a college program where you have to take unrelated courses to get your degree. 

In cosmetology school, you’ll get the education and hands-on experience you need to learn the ropes, build your skills, and pass the required state licensing exam that you will have to take to become a licensed hairstylist (more on that in a moment). 

Every program is different – and they’re not all created equal. Depending on the state you’re in and the specific requirements needed, you’ll likely attend your program anywhere between 6- 18 months. (Again, it totally depends on where you go and what state you’re hoping to be licensed in). 

Just like with other types of schools, there are some that are more affordable than others, some that are regarded higher than others, and some that might better prepare you for the specific type of career or unique niche you’re looking to be in. 

Want to start your search for the best cosmetology schools to help you become a hairstylist? We’ve got a must-read list available for you to kick off the discovery! 

No matter what kind of school you go to, this will be the same everywhere – school is not just theoretical.

Sure, you’ll read books and take tests, but the beauty (pun intended) of beauty school is that you get the hands-on experience you need to develop your skills in real-time so you’re set up for success when you graduate. 

Worried about the financial aspect of cosmetology school? Just like with more traditional education routes (like college, trade school, or universities), there are often financial aid programs available to help you handle the tuition and associated costs. 

(Quick pro tip for you: make sure that while you’re in school, you have beauty student insurance to help protect you from any liability claims that might arise. Yep, this can happen even while you’re training!) 

The Basics of State Licensing Information 

Once you’ve completed your schooling, you’ll need to follow the right steps toward getting your state-issued license so you can legally practice in your state. 

Remember, every state will have a different route. The best way to make sure you’re following the right path is to run through these steps as you’re on the route to graduation: 

• Know Your State’s Specific Requirements: You’ve probably already done this at this point because it’s a crucial part of making sure you pick the right school or program. But go ahead and refresh yourself on your state’s requirements so you can double-check that you know what to expect, what you might be missing, and if you need to tackle anything else.  
• Complete Your Accredited Program:  Based on your state’s requirements, of course. Depending on where you’re located, it probably will take 12-18 months with about 1,400-1,600 hours of experience to complete. 
• Take Your State Exam & Pass It: If you’ve picked the right program and put in the work, you’ll be ready to take and pass the state exam – this is how you’re granted your license. It varies based on state, but you’ll likely have to take both a practical and written portion of the exam to show off that you know about sanitation, best practices, and all the skills associated with being a hairstylist (coloring, cut, perms, etc.) 

Your First Salon or Salon Suite Role: What to Know 

Once you graduate from your program and pass your exam, the world is your oyster. Now is the time to take the first step into the world of beauty. You’ll want to build up your skills in a real-world environment and gain experience by learning from someone who’s further along than you are. 

Need tips on how to find that first gig? Try networking with your classmates and your professors to learn about open positions. Pound the pavement and introduce yourself in your community – especially to stylists you admire and want to learn from. Apply to internships or apprenticeships, or take newbie jobs where you can learn from the stylists who hired you. 

(P.S., we have a full guide on the possible next steps post-graduation that we highly recommend you peruse). 

Take this time to learn about marketing tools and techniques, start your own branded pages, and start building up your followers while you find your niche in the industry. 

How to Build Experience and Grow Your Clientele 

Once you’ve landed your first role, even more learning kicks off – and it’s the exciting, in-the-mix kind. 

Give yourself time to keep learning by:

• Taking continuing education classes
• Shadowing more experienced stylists when you can
• Paying attention to the techniques and services that excite you most
• Finding your niche 

The more experience you build, the more confident you’ll become behind the chair, and the easier it’ll be to figure out what kind of hairstylist you actually want to be.

This is also the time to start thinking about your niche. Maybe you’re obsessed with blonding, love creating bridal looks, want to specialize in textured hair, or discover that extensions are totally your thing. You don’t have to have your entire career mapped out from day one. Let your experience help you figure out where your skills, interests, and ideal clientele overlap.

And speaking of clientele: start treating every interaction as an opportunity to build a relationship! Focus on providing great service, listening to what your clients actually want, and making it easy for them to come back to you. 

Encourage happy clients to rebook, refer their friends (we love referral and loyalty programs), and leave reviews when appropriate. Your reputation can become one of your biggest business-building tools as you grow.

And, of course, keep showing up online wherever it makes sense. 

Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, or another platform where your ideal clients spend time, use your pages to showcase your work, share your personality, and give potential clients a reason to book with you. You don’t need to become a full-time influencer or content creator (unless you want to); you just need to make it easy for people to see what you do and why they should trust you with their hair.

A Hairstylists’ Business Must: Hairstylist Liability Insurance 

No matter what route you take in this industry, one fact remains the same – you need to protect yourself, your career, and your future. 

Investing in hairstylist liability insurance from the start of your career can save you from roadblocks that could set you back – and it shows your clientele that you’re a professional who cares about your career and about them. 

Even if you work at a salon or suite that provides liability insurance for their workers, it’s still a must to invest in your own. Remember, those salon insurance policies may or may not cover you. You deserve protection that’s focused on you and only you!