Hair Stylist Resume Example with Skills & Template for 2024

Getting a great hairstylist job can be a rat’s nest. The problem? There are lots of talented stylists out there all fighting for a few positions. To win the interview, you need to turn heads like a twisted fishtail. Don’t worry. With the right hair stylist resume, you’ll come off like a Ted Gibson updo.

In this guide:

• A hair stylist resume example better than most.
• How to write a hairstylist resume that shows your best sides.
• How to make a hair stylist job description for resumes that fits.
• Why you can’t just list hair stylist resume skills (and what to do instead).

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Are you just coming into hair styling from another career? See this guide: Career Change Resume Sample & Guide

Considering other positions? See our dedicated resume guides:

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Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Any Job.

Hair Stylist Resume Example You Can Copy and Adapt

Let's start with a perfect resume for a hair stylist:

A Hair Stylist provides hair care services to clients, including cutting, coloring, and styling hair. They must have a keen eye for detail and a good sense of aesthetics to help clients achieve their desired looks. Hair stylists may work in salons, spas, or other beauty establishments.

Here’s how to write a confident hair stylist resume:

1. Select the Best Hair Stylist Resume Format

Double-take:

Resume format can make or break your job-search look. You of all people know appearances count. You’d never send a client out with bedhead. So, make the effort to create a great-looking hair stylist resume.

Follow these tips:

Hair Stylist Resume Format

• Add one-inch resume margins and a little white space.
• Use one resume font like 11–14pt Trebuchet or Cambria.
• Make resume sections for Heading, Summary, Work History, Education, and Skills.
• Put past work in reverse-chronological resume form.
• Set a one-page resume length.
• Save a PDF resume for easy viewing, even on mobile.

Expert Hint: A study by IBIS World shows there are one million hair salons in the US, but only 1.3 million employees. That’s an awful lot of one-person shops and a few big ones. Before you send in that resume for hair stylist jobs, consider hanging out a shingle and starting your own business.

2. Write the Perfect Hair Stylist Resume Objective or Summary

Oops!

The salon manager just tossed your resume for hair stylist jobs in the bin. It seems you looked too “bowl-cut” for her needs. What do you have to do to get attention?

Write a layered resume objective or career summary.

Include:

1. An adjective (compassionate, enthusiastic)
2. “Hair stylist”
3. Years of experience (2+, 3+)
4. Who/how you’ll help (delight clients at Bang Bangs)
5. Best hairstylist resume achievements(25% boost in repeat business...)

Write it after the rest to smooth the way. See these hair stylist resume examples:

Hair Stylist Resume Summary—Example

Enthusiastic hair stylist with 3+ years of experience cutting, styling, and performing hair services. Seeking to delight clients at Bang Bangs Inc. At Look You Look, presided over 25% boost in repeat business from expert customer service and 30% revenue jump.

Experienced hair stylist, skilled in cutting, coloring, and styling. A friendly, energetic employee who bonds well with clients and generates repeat business. Skilled in booking appointments, customer service, and upselling.

Be warned: the second of those hair stylist resume samples promises repeat business. But... The first shows you’ve delivered it.

“But my hair stylist experience is still growing in!”

If you’re new, see this entry-level resume profile for hair stylist jobs:

Beginner Hair Stylist Resume Objective

Compassionate hair stylist skilled in cutting, styling, coloring, and upselling. As freelance hairstylist, maintained steady list of 5 clients, performing regular cuts, permanents, colorings, and extensions.

Entry-level hair stylist, skilled in cutting hair and giving permanents. Also highly skilled in coloring and hair extensions. A good listener who excels at customer service and time management. Ready to start immediately and work hard.

Watch out:

The second of those entry-level hair stylist resumes sounds good.

But the first shows real use of skills.

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3. Fit Your Hair Stylist Job Description and Skills Section to the Job

What hair stylist skills do you need in a resume? See this list:

Hair Stylist Resume Skills

Hard Skills

• Cutting & Styling
• Perming & Straightening
• Extensions
• Coloring
• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Business Operation
• Supply Management
• First Aid & CPR

Soft Skills

• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication
• Time Management
• Stress Management
• Creativity
• Listening
• Attention to Detail
• Teamwork
• Professional Appearance
• Patience

But consider this:

Don’t pile them all up in a resume for hair stylist jobs. You’ll look like a mullet afro with braids. To get hired, target your resume. Find resume keywords by scouring the job ad. The right skills for a resume are in there.

Then write a tailored resume job description and add them like the first of these hair stylist resume samples:

Say the job ad wants skills in supply management, up-selling, scheduling, and customer service.

Hair Stylist Job Description on a Resume [Sample]

Experience

Hair Stylist

The Look You Look, Springfield, IL

2016–2019

• Performed 5+ different hair services for 140+ regulars and multiple walk-ins, including cutting, styling, extensions, coloring, and straightening.
• Controlled supply management for all signature line products. Worked with vendors on deals that cut inventory costs by 18%.
• Upsold and cross-sold products from multiple brands, including hair care, skin care, and makeup. Beat store average by 15%.
• Took calls and scheduled appointments for 80+ clients each week.

Key Achievement:

• Presided over a 25% increase in repeat business, thanks to exemplary customer service, satisfied customers, and word of mouth.

• Cut, styled, colored, straightened, and applied extensions for walk-in and scheduled customers daily.
• Maintained high customer comment scores and online review scores.
• Took calls and answered customer questions.
• Sold salon products and was responsible for cleaning and prepping store.

Compare those two.

The second of those hairstylist resume examples is fine. But do you want “fine” or “exemplary?” It’s missing numbers and those oh-so-important hair stylist skills from the ad. But—

What if your hair stylist experience is in the peach fuzz phase?

Entry-level resumes need freelance work and skills from unrelated jobs. See these hair stylist resume examples with no experience: Say the job wants cutting & styling, coloring, listening, and time management.

Beginner Hairstylist Resume Job Description [Example]

Freelance Hair Stylist

Springfield, IL

2017–2019

• Cut and styled hair for 5 regular clients.
• Performed straightenings and colorings 2x per month.

Team Member

Red Robin

2015–2019

• Used listening and interpersonal skills to maintain 95% comment card scores.
• Commended 2x by manager for time management.

Team Member

Red Robin

2015–2019

• Served 60+ meals per day in busy fast food restaurant.
• Maintained section in clean and attractive appearance.
• Swept, mopped, and wiped and cleared tables.
• Helped with cleaning back of house.

Before, meet after.

Do something like the first of those hair stylist resume samples for extra volume.

Expert Hint: According to Toni & Guy Academy, the average beauty school tuition in the US is $13,715. The average salary is $22,141. Is a cosmetology certificate worth the money? It is if you make more than average (with tips) and pay less than average for school. (Some schools cost just over $2,000.)

4. Beautify Your Resume Education Section

How much education does a hair stylist resume need? Well—

It’s not so much your years of schooling. It’s the skills you show off in the education section of your resume. To land the interview, do it like this hair stylist resume example:

Hair Stylist Resume Example—Education

If the salon wants upselling and proof you can style hair, you’re on the shortlist!

5. Add “Bonus” Sections to Your Hair Stylist Resume

Before the big reveal, let’s add highlights to your hairstylist resume.

Why?

The salon manager wants to know she’s not making a mistake. Show them you’re the perfect hire by adding passion to your resume.

You can add:

• Certifications (Cosmetology, coloring, etc.)
• Volunteer work
• Freelancing
• Instagram portfolio
• Professional associations
• Awards
• Foreign languages
• Additional activities
• Conferences
• Exercise

See these hair stylist resume examples:

Hair Stylist Resume—Other Sections

Certifications

2020 - Illinois Cosmetology License

2019 - Hair Colorist Certification

Additional Activities 

• Member, Professional Beauty Association.
• Mentor 15+ hair stylists through one-on-one sessions.
• Licensed Paul Mitchell products vendor.

Instagram Portfolio

Instagram.com/dianneztassis

Additional Activities

• Running
• Bowling

See that?

The second of those hairstylist resume samples has a touch of alopecia.

Even if you do add “running” to your resume for hair stylist jobs, spice it up. Try saying “Run 4x a week for self-care.” Or better still, “Lead a weekly running club with 5 members.”

But that first example positively glows. The Instagram portfolio link will let them see your true colors!

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your resume for hair stylist jobs. Just like when you’re cutting hair, put the spotlight on the customer (or employer), not yourself!

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a hair stylist resume:

• Start with a good hairstylist resume template. Include hair stylist achievements from your life.
• Add hair stylist skills like coloring or permanents. But—use bullet points to show what you’ve done with them.
• Write a hair stylist resume objective that shows off your best moments.
• Add “bonus” resume sections to your hair stylist resume. Things like pro associations or volunteer work will show your passion.

Got questions on how to write good resumes for hair stylist jobs? Not sure how to put hair stylist on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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