Barber

Men’s hairdresser, gent’s hairdresser

Barbers cut and trim customers’ hair, beards and moustaches, following instructions or copying example styles.

Salary Range: £14,000 to £25,000

You could get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

You could take a course to help you get started, for example:

• Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Barbering

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can do an intermediate apprenticeship in barbering or a creative hair professional advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You may be able to start work as a trainee barber in a barbershop and learn on the job. Your employer would expect you to take a part-time course to get qualifications, either at a college or in their own training school.

Other routes

You may be able to work freelance and rent space in a barbershop, though you’ll usually have to supply your own equipment.

More information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a barber from the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority and National Hairdressers’ Federation.

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

• customer service skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• active listening skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work on your own
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

As a barber, you might do the following as part of your daily routine:

• welcome customers and find out what they want
• give advice to customers on hairstyles and grooming
• cut and style hair
• shave, trim and shape beards and moustaches
• provide scalp, face and neck massages
• clean and sterilise equipment, like combs, razors and clippers
• take payments, keep records and make appointments
• keep up to date with new styles and techniques

Working environment

You could work in a barbershop, at a client’s home or on a film set.

Your working environment may be physically active.

With experience you could become a senior barber. If you take further qualifications, you could move into training or assessing student barbers.

You could also open your own barbershop, either independently or as a franchise.