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Hairdresser CV Example

A hairdresser CV should highlight your creative flair, technical skills in cutting, colouring, and styling, and your ability to deliver outstanding results that keep clients coming back.

Recommended template: Modern

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Key Skills to Include

Cutting & StylingColour Techniques (Balayage, Highlights)Blow-Dry & FinishingHair ConsultationChemical Treatments (Perms, Relaxers)Hair ExtensionsClient RetentionNVQ Level 2/3 Hairdressing

Quick Tips

  • Include your hairdressing qualifications and any specialist colour or cutting certifications.
  • Highlight your column takings and client retention rates to demonstrate commercial value.
  • Mention any competition experience, editorial work, or social media following.
  • Demonstrate your ability to consult with clients and deliver results that match their expectations.

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Start with the Modern template and customise it for your beauty & wellness role.

How to Write Your Hairdresser CV

A hairdresser CV should showcase your creative and technical abilities alongside your commercial value to a salon. Employers want to see that you can deliver a range of services to a high standard, build a loyal client following, and contribute to salon revenue through column takings and retail sales. Whether you specialise in colour, cutting, or both, your CV should highlight your qualifications, the services you offer, and the results you deliver for clients and the business.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile, work experience, qualifications, and skills section. For each role, describe the salon, the services you delivered, and your column takings or client volumes. Highlight your client retention rate, retail performance, and any training or competition involvement. Keep the CV to one or two pages and place your qualifications and specialist skills prominently.

CV Format

Choose a modern, stylish template that reflects the creative nature of the profession. Avoid overly corporate designs. Use bullet points for easy reading and ensure your column takings, qualifications, and specialist techniques are immediately visible. Include a link to your portfolio or Instagram if it showcases your best work.

CV Profile Examples

Experienced Hairdresser

NVQ Level 3 qualified hairdresser with eight years of salon experience specialising in colour services, precision cutting, and creative styling for a diverse clientele. Skilled in balayage, foil highlights, colour correction, and keratin treatments, with weekly column takings averaging £1,800. Maintains a personal client base of over 150 regulars with a 90% rebooking rate, contributing consistently to salon revenue and reputation.

Senior Stylist

Senior stylist and colour specialist with ten years of experience at a busy city-centre salon, combining creative technical skills with a strong commercial approach. Experienced in training junior stylists, conducting colour consultations, and developing service packages that drive client spend. Holds advanced colour certification from Wella and Redken with a portfolio of editorial and competition work.

Junior Hairdresser

Creative and motivated junior hairdresser with NVQ Level 2 and two years of salon experience, confidently performing cuts, blow-dries, and basic colour services. Developing expertise in balayage and freehand colour techniques through continued training and shadowing senior stylists. Keen to grow a personal client base and advance towards Level 3 qualification in a supportive, progressive salon.

Summarise your qualifications, experience, and specialist services in three sentences. Include your column takings and client retention rate as headline figures. Mention any brand affiliations or competition achievements.

Key Skills for Your Hairdresser CV

Cutting & Styling

Performing precision cuts, layering, texturising, and finishing techniques for all hair types and client preferences.

Colour Techniques (Balayage, Highlights)

Applying advanced colour services including balayage, foils, ombre, and colour correction using professional colour systems.

Blow-Dry & Finishing

Creating polished, salon-quality finishes using blow-dry techniques, styling tools, and finishing products.

Hair Consultation

Assessing hair condition, face shape, and client preferences to recommend suitable cuts, colours, and treatments.

Chemical Treatments (Perms, Relaxers)

Performing chemical restructuring services safely, assessing hair condition and carrying out strand tests before treatment.

Hair Extensions

Applying and maintaining hair extensions using bonded, micro-ring, or tape-in methods for natural-looking results.

Client Retention

Building long-term relationships with clients through consistent quality, personalised service, and effective rebooking strategies.

NVQ Level 2/3 Hairdressing

Holding the industry-recognised qualification demonstrating competence in cutting, colouring, and styling to professional standards.

Retail Product Sales

Recommending and selling professional haircare products to support clients' at-home maintenance and protect salon treatments.

Work Experience Examples

For each role, describe the salon, your service range, and your commercial performance. Include column takings, client numbers, and retail figures. Highlight any training or mentoring responsibilities and specific colour or cutting techniques you excel in. Use achievements to demonstrate your impact on salon revenue and reputation.

Senior Stylist

Henley Hair Studio

Led colour and cutting services at a 12-chair salon in Reading, managing a full appointment column and contributing to team training and salon development.

Responsibilities

  • Performed advanced colour services including full-head highlights, balayage, ombre, colour correction, and toner applications using Wella and Redken colour systems.
  • Delivered precision cutting, restyle consultations, and blow-dry finishes for a diverse client base spanning all hair types and textures.
  • Conducted in-depth consultations with new and returning clients, recommending services and products based on hair condition, lifestyle, and personal style.
  • Trained and mentored three junior stylists, guiding them through their NVQ assessments and developing their cutting and colour technique.
  • Promoted and sold salon retail products, recommending aftercare routines to protect colour, maintain condition, and extend the life of treatments.

Achievements

  • Achieved average weekly column takings of £1,800, the highest in the salon, contributing over £90,000 in annual revenue.
  • Built a personal client base of 160 regulars with a rebooking rate of 90%, generating consistent revenue regardless of seasonal fluctuations.
  • Won the salon's internal Stylist of the Year award for two consecutive years based on column takings, client feedback, and team contribution.

Stylist

Toni & Guy — Oxford

Delivered cutting, colouring, and styling services at a busy high-street Toni & Guy franchise, working across appointments and walk-in clients.

Responsibilities

  • Performed a range of cutting and styling services including layering, texturising, and blow-dry finishing techniques.
  • Applied colour services including semi-permanent, permanent, highlights, and toners following Toni & Guy colour protocols.
  • Consulted with clients to understand desired outcomes, managing expectations and recommending maintenance schedules.
  • Maintained a clean, organised workstation and followed salon health and safety procedures at all times.

Achievements

  • Grew personal column takings from £900 to £1,400 per week within 18 months through client retention and upselling colour services.
  • Completed the Toni & Guy Advanced Colouring course, qualifying to deliver the salon's premium colour services.

Education & Qualifications

Lead with your hairdressing qualification, noting the NVQ level and awarding body. Include advanced colour or cutting certifications from brands such as Wella, Redken, or L'Oreal. Mention any competition training, business courses, or continuing professional development activities.

NVQ Level 2 / 3 Hairdressing

Industry-standard qualification covering cutting, colouring, styling, and client consultation to professional standards.

Wella Master Colour Expert

Advanced colour certification demonstrating expertise in Wella colour formulation, application, and correction techniques.

Sassoon Academy Training

Precision cutting training from the Sassoon Academy, teaching structured cutting techniques and geometric shapes.

Hair Extension Certification

Training in professional hair extension application methods including bonded, tape-in, and micro-ring techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I include on a hairdresser CV?
Include your hairdressing qualifications, years of experience, and the services you specialise in. Highlight your column takings, client retention rate, and retail performance figures. Mention any brand training, competition results, or editorial experience. Demonstrating your commercial value alongside your creative skills gives employers confidence that you will contribute positively to their salon.
How important are column takings on a hairdresser CV?
Column takings are one of the most important metrics on a hairdresser CV. They give employers an immediate understanding of the revenue you can generate. Include your average weekly takings and any growth you have achieved over time. If you are a junior stylist with lower takings, focus on your growth trajectory and the rate at which your column is building.
Should I include colour training on my hairdresser CV?
Absolutely. Colour services are typically the highest-revenue treatments in a salon, and demonstrating advanced colour skills makes you significantly more valuable. Include brand-specific colour certifications, the techniques you are skilled in, and any colour correction experience. If you have completed courses at training academies such as Sassoon or Toni & Guy, highlight these prominently.
How do I write a hairdresser CV as a junior stylist?
Focus on your qualification, the services you can deliver confidently, and your eagerness to develop. Include your placement or salon experience, mentioning the volume of clients you served and any positive feedback received. Highlight the techniques you are developing and any advanced training you have completed or are booked onto. Show your creative potential through a portfolio link or social media presence.

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