Stunning Hairstylist Resume Examples for This Year

Updated September 28, 20221.1k

A good resume is essential for all jobs, including those for hairstylists. Here’s how you can write a hairstylist resume using resume tips from ResumeNerd.

Hairstylist Resume Examples

Hairstylists can bring significant amounts of self-confidence to an individual. However, just because you’re licensed to work as a hairstylist, that doesn’t mean a hiring manager will necessarily want to hire you. Learn how to write a hairstylist resume that will make any recruiter bring you in for a job interview.

What To Highlight in a Hairstylist Resume

Hairstylists need a wide array of skills, and many stylists choose different specialties. For example, you might have chosen to become a specialized colorist, taken extra training to learn special haircutting techniques or learned how to make your salon safer for people with disabilities. Highlight your specialties, so a hiring manager wants to hire you.

Structure of a Hairstylist Resume

Before you begin writing your hairstylist's resume, it’s important to decide on a resume format. There are three resume formats: chronological, which highlights experience; functional, which emphasizes skills rather than experience; and combination, which highlights both. Choose the right format for your needs, then include the following sections.

Header

Your resume header is part of the resume template. Use this section to fill out your contact information, including your phone number, email address and professional social media links, such as your LinkedIn profile. You can also include a link to your professional portfolio, if you have it.

Resume summary or objective

Next, you can move into the first section of the resume. If you have years of experience, write a resume summary that emphasizes your expertise, as well as any achievements you have. If you have little to no experience, you can write a resume objective, which instead emphasizes your skills and indicates the intentions and goals you hope to accomplish in this new role.

Skills

Hairstylists can have many different skills and even specialize in some. Here are a few bullet points if you’re looking for some skills to include in your resume:

Communication skills
Customer service skills
Interpersonal skills
Creation of the overall hairdressing experience
Knowledge of different haircare products
Ability to provide many haircare services
General haircare and hairstyling
Hair coloring
Shampooing
Color techniques, like balayage
Blowouts
Braiding
Hair extensions
Perming
Updos
Volumizing

Note that this list includes both hard skills, which are the knowledge and technical skills you’ve trained for and soft skills, which are skills you have developed across multiple jobs and are transferable such as interpersonal skills, and written and verbal communication.

Work history

You can include up to 10 years of experience as a hairstylist in the work experience section. Remember that these can consist of academic and volunteer work, two types of work hairstylists sometimes do as they start growing their client base. List your previous jobs in reverse-chronological order and include the salon name and dates of employment for each job.

Education

A hairstylist will often only have a high school diploma before going through cosmetology school and getting their license. Don’t include your high school diploma; add your cosmetology school experience and all certifications, including your license.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Hairstylist Resume

Keep these tips in mind when writing your hairstylist resume:

Do:
- Include any professional social media links you have. For example, if your portfolio is on Instagram or TikTok, include these social media links on your resume.
- Give as many specific examples as you can. A resume is all about specificity, and you want to show what skills and experiences you excel in.
- Read the job description carefully before you submit your resume. You want to match the job requirements and your skills.
Don’t:
- Turn your resume in without proofreading it. Typos and grammatical errors, even accidental ones, are among the biggest resume killers.
- Focus on your old achievements. You want to show the recruiter that you’re excelling at your job now, so focus on those accomplishments.
- Leave out non-professional experience on your resume. Volunteer work, internships and academic work all count as relevant experience, especially if they were in the last few years.

FAQ: Hairstylist Resumes

Do I need to include a cover letter for a hairstylist application?

You should always provide a cover letter alongside your resume, even if the hiring manager doesn’t specifically ask for one. A cover letter allows you to talk more in-depth about certain experiences and hair salons you may have worked for in the past. Resume writing is an excellent part of your application, but you can always go further by writing an effective cover letter. Use the ResumeNerd cover letter builder to make the process even easier.

How can I write a hairstylist's resume without a lot of experience?

Experience is an important part of showing that you can be a professional hairstylist, but it can be hard to come by if you’re a student looking for an entry-level job. Show a salon owner that you have what it takes by including non-professional experiences, such as internships, academic work and volunteer positions. Check out the hairstylist resume samples from ResumeNerd for more information you can use.

How do I change my hairstylist resume to apply to different jobs?

Every time you apply for a new job, it’s a good idea to build the perfect resume for that specific job. Read through the job description and note any keywords in the description. These are the skills and experiences that your potential employer wants to see in your resume. Incorporate them throughout your resume for the best results. Writing your basic resume on the ResumeNerd resume builder makes it easier for you to go back through and personalize each resume.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.