Hairdressers cut, colour, and style hair for a client base that ranges from weekly blow-dry regulars to one-off wedding parties. You'll work in a high-street salon, a high-end boutique, a session styling agency, or as a freelancer on location. Most report to a salon owner or creative director, and a busy Saturday can mean 10 or 12 clients back to back. Beyond technical work, a big part of the job is consultation — reading what a client wants, managing expectations, and building the kind of relationship that brings them back every six weeks.
Jade Morrison
Senior Hairdresser
📍 Glasgow, UK✉️ jade.morrison@email.com
Summary
NVQ Level 3 qualified Senior Hairdresser with 6 years of salon experience specialising in colour correction, balayage, and bridal styling. Built a loyal client base of 200+ and consistently ranked as top revenue-generating stylist.
Work Experience
Senior Stylist at TONI&GUY GlasgowMay 2021 — Present
Manage personal column of 35+ clients per week generating £4,500 average weekly revenue
Specialise in balayage, colour correction, and precision cutting with 4.9-star Google rating
Hairdresser at Rush Hair & BeautyAug 2018 — May 2021
Built client base from zero to 180 regular clients within 18 months through social media marketing
Performed 25+ services daily including cuts, colours, blow-drys, and chemical treatments
Hairdresser CVs need to show your NVQ level, specialist skills, and revenue-generating ability. Salons want to see your client base size, weekly takings, and any competition wins or editorial work.
Key Skills to Include
Colour correction, balayage, precision cutting, bridal styling, client consultation, social media marketing, retail product knowledge, and health and safety compliance.
Common Mistakes
Not quantifying your column. "Experienced hairdresser" is vague. "Senior stylist generating £4,500 per week with 200+ regular clients" shows your commercial value.
Formatting Tips
One page. Use a modern, creative template. Include your weekly revenue and client numbers. Link to your Instagram if you have a strong following.
Average Salary — Hairdresser / Stylist
United States
$28,000 – $48,000
United Kingdom
$22,000 – $36,000
Germany
$24,000 – $38,000
UAE / Dubai
$24,000 – $42,000
Canada
$28,000 – $44,000
Australia
$34,000 – $52,000
Figures in USD. Ranges reflect mid-level experience (3–7 years). Senior roles and major metro areas typically sit at the top of these bands.
Top 5 Interview Questions — Hairdresser / Stylist
1A client comes in with a photo of a style that won't suit their hair type. How do you handle that?
Show that you can redirect without making the client feel bad — explain the consultation approach, offer alternatives, and describe how you'd set realistic expectations before picking up scissors.
2What colouring techniques are you most confident with, and what's your experience with balayage?
Be specific about the brands you've used (Wella, L'Oréal Professionnel, Schwarzkopf), the techniques you've trained in, and any advanced courses. Don't oversell skills you're still developing.
3Tell me about a time a service didn't go as planned and how you resolved it.
Focus on how you stayed calm, what you did to fix the result, and how you managed the client relationship. Salons want stylists who handle complaints without drama.
4How do you build and retain a loyal client base?
Talk about follow-up messages, remembering personal details, upselling treatments naturally, and using booking apps like Fresha or Treatwell. Numbers help — if you brought 40 regular clients to your last salon, say so.
5What's your approach to staying current with hair trends?
Mention Instagram accounts you follow, shows you've attended (like Salon International), or any session work. Employers want stylists who bring fresh energy, not ones who stopped learning in 2018.
How to Tailor Your CV
Groups like Toni & Guy, Sassoon, or Rush want to see your NVQ Level 2/3 qualification front and centre, plus any brand-specific training certificates. Independent boutique salons care more about your Instagram portfolio and your column of regular clients — mention client retention numbers if you have them. Hotels and resorts (Four Seasons, Shangri-La) want a clean, professional presentation and experience with a broad range of services including treatments. If you freelance for fashion or editorial work, list publications or shows — that context is gold for creative salons.