Hair Stylist CV Guide + Tips + Example
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A well-written CV is a great place to start if you seek a hair stylist position. Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry! Our guide to crafting a great hair stylist CV will help you make the most of your creativity and relationship-building skills so you can get the job.
Start by editing this hair stylist CV template or explore our 40+ CV templates to find the best one for you.
Hair stylist CV example (text version)
Damon Mullen
Los Angeles, CA 90008
555 555 5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
Dedicated and skilled hairstylist with eight years of experience in providing top-notch salon services to clients. Proficient in a wide range of hair treatments, styles and techniques. Specialize in layered coloring and intricate hairstyles and cuts for various hair textures and lengths. Committed to delivering exceptional customer satisfaction through tailored services and creative expertise.
Core Qualifications
- Haircutting and styling
- Hair coloring and highlighting
- Hair extensions and weaves
- Blowouts and updos
- Perms and relaxers
- Scalp treatments
- Knowledge of hair care products
- Client consultation and communication
- Organization and multitasking
- Sanitation and safety protocols
Education
June 2015
Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA
Associate of Science Cosmetology
Relevant coursework:
- Haircutting and Styling Techniques
- Hair Coloring and Chemical Treatments
- Salon Sanitation and Safety
- Salon Management and Business Skills
Work Experience
November 2021 – Current
A Hair Salon – Los Angeles, CA
Hair Stylist
- Shampoo, cut, color and style hair for an average of 60 clients weekly according to their specifications and hairstyle evaluation.
- Offer clients advice on how to take the best care of their new style and their hair in general with shampoos, creams and styling tools.
- Successfully increased salon revenue by 20% through client retention and upselling of products and services.
- Use a variety of tools, such as curling irons, scissors, blow dryers, clippers and hair brushes.
September 2018 – October 2021
Barber Shop Classic LA – Los Angeles, CA
Barber
- Cut, styled, trimmed and shampooed hair with regards to hair texture, thickness, length and client preferences.
- Fitted clients for hairpieces to help boost their confidence or enhance their style.
- Colored, bleached and highlighted hair under safe conditions and gave clients instructions on how to maintain their new style.
- Offered facial shaves, facial hair trimmings and care recommendations, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate through exceptional service and attention to detail.
June 2015 – August 2018
One Spa World – Los Angeles, CA
Cosmetologist
- Performed facial and scalp treatments for over 30 clients per week, increasing the salon’s revenue by 20%.
- Developed a new cream to treat aftershave bumps that became a best-seller in the salon.
- Cleaned and styled various hairpieces and wigs for everyday use as well as for costumes.
- Recommended hair care products and tools to help clients understand how to better take care of their hair and hairstyle at home.
Conference Attendance
- American Beauty Show, Chicago, IL – (2023)
- International Salon & Spa Expo, Long Beach, CA – (2023)
- International Beauty Show, Las Vegas, NV – (2023)
- Better Boundaries for Beauty Industry Professionals, Professional Beauty Association – (2022)
- International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC) Las Vegas, NV – (2022)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- Professional Beauty Association (PBA) – (2023)
- Member, National Cosmetology Association (NCA) – (2021)
- California Cosmetology Association – (2018)
Certifications and Licenses
- California Cosmetology License – (2023)
- American Board of Certified Haircolorist (ABCH) certification – (2019)
- Licensed Hair Braider – (2021)
- BarberSafe Professional Barber Certification – (2018)
Training
- Advanced Hair Coloring Techniques Training – (2022)
- Redken Hair Color – (2021)
- OSHA Training in Salon Safety – (2019)
- Mastering the Art of Barbering Workshop – (2018)
Profession Relevant Skills
- Well-developed creativity skills allow me to recreate and create new hairstyles for clients according to an image they bring in or information they give me.
- Time management skills necessary to keep appointments in order and ensure each client has the time and attention he or she needs and deserves.
- Excellent listening skills essential for understanding what a client wants and ensuring she or he is pleased with the final result.
- Physical stamina necessary for comfortably standing on my feet for long periods of time.
Hobbies and Interests
On weekends, I like to go out on the river and enjoy some fishing with my friends and dog. I enjoy drawing landscape portraits using charcoal or watercolor paints. I also volunteer my services down at the homeless shelter and senior citizen center, where I provide free haircuts and styles.
5 essentials of a top hair stylist CV
Contact details
Create a section at the top of your CV for your contact information. This section is vital because the recruiter or hiring manager can not reach you for an interview without it. The standard way to display your contact information is as follows: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add those last.
Personal statement
A personal statement, also called a professional summary, is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and pitch your best skills and related work experience. A personal statemenet in a hair stylist CV must include job-relevant skills, how long you have been in the industry and one or two of your most notable professional accomplishments. In general, your personal statement must be compelling and be no longer than five succinct sentences to grab the hiring manager’s attention. CV examples for hair stylists can show you how to write an impressive summary.
Skills
Every hiring manager wants to know what skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read. Include a mixture of hard and soft skills that range from business operations software to your impeccable ability to work with people, as demonstrated by our hair stylist CV sample. If you are applying for your first manager job, include transferable skills. They are a must-have addition to a first-time hair stylist CV.
Work history
Whether or not you have work experience as a hairstylist, your CV must have a detailed employment history section. List current and previous employers in reverse-chronological order and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Add three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list. If you don’t have work experience in the field or if this is your first job application, display extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, community service, and professional and personal projects — anything that shows you have relevant work experience.
Education
Hiring managers want to see your education credentials, so a CV for a hair stylist job must include an education section. Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school. Use bullet points for each school and display the name of the school and the year you graduated. You should omit the year if you graduated more than 10 years ago. List your high school information and any post-high school classes taken if you did not attend college.
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Action words for a stand-out hair stylist CV
Action words convey confidence and strengthen CVs because they tell the hiring manager exactly what you did. They pack a punch when combined with numbers.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a hair stylist CV:
- Apply
- Create
- Deliver
- Develop
- Evaluate
- Identify
- Implement
- Improve
- Manage
- Style
- Cut
- Color
- Support
- Trim
- Upsell
Want more inspiration? We have more than 400 CV examples to help you create the perfect hair stylist CV. Need the perfect CV for a hair stylist job now? Our CV Maker has all the tools you need to craft a professional CV in minutes! You can make edits on the fly, download your finished CV and save it as a PDF, .doc or plain text. It just doesn’t get any easier!
Top skills for a hair stylist CV
Review the job description carefully and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Your skills might include the following:
- Creativity
- Attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills
- Time management
- Patience
- Customer service
- Verbal communication
- Active listening
- Sales
Certifications for a hair stylist CV
To become a hairstylist you must be state-licensed. In addition, a hair stylist CV that lists at least one certification stands out from the rest, so consider adding one to your professional toolkit.
Certification options for hair stylists include
- Board Certified Haircolorist (BCH)
- BarberSAFE Professional Barber
- Masters of Balayage Certificate
Pair your CV with a matching cover letter
Hair stylist CV FAQ
What to include in a CV for a hair stylist job?
A hair stylist CV must always include five primary sections:
- Contact information
- Personal profile
- Skills
- Job history
- Education
After that, your CV can include any number of sections, such as the following:
- Professional memberships or associations
- Presentations
- Publications
- Certifications and licenses
- Volunteer experience
- Related hobbies and interests
The easiest way to determine what sections to add to your CV and how to fill them out is by reviewing the essential requirements of the job description. Match the job requirements to your qualifications and add them to your CV. If you’re unsure where to start, use the hair stylist CV sample on this page for guidance.
What’s the best format for a hair stylist CV?
A CV format for a hair stylist should fit the industry, job and your work experience and goals. For instance, if you’re applying for your first hair stylist job or are changing careers, it’s best to use a CV format that emphasizes your education or skills. However, if you have a steady career in retail management and have progressed through the ranks, you might want to showcase your work experience.
What are some tips for creating an excellent CV for a hair stylist job?
Not all CVs are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect hair stylist CV:
- Review hair stylist CV samples for inspiration.
- Use a CV template for a hair stylist.
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, awards and honors.
- If you have given presentations or speeches at conferences, highlight those experiences in a separate section.
- Showcase volunteer and community service activities that focus on serving people.
- Create subcategories for your skills under the skills section of your CV. For example, you might have to group your soft and technical skills separately to let each type shine.
- Add a separate category for your managerial skills and give specific quantifiable examples of how you have used them in other jobs.
Do’s and don’ts for building a hair stylist CV
- Use measurable achievements to describe your hair stylist skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your hair stylist CV.
- Tailor your CV to your target hair stylist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your hair stylist CV.
- Format your hair stylist CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your hair stylist experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” hair stylist abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being a hair stylist.
- Forget to proofread. A hair stylist CV with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for acing a hair stylist interview
Learn about the company before your interview.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the company’s history, goals, values and people before the interview. Being able to show that you have in-depth knowledge about your potential employer shows real interest, dedication and commitment — traits that hiring managers look for in every job candidate they talk to. Plus, having a glimpse of the company culture before you arrive will give you an idea of what to expect on arrival so that you can feel confident.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What Attracted You to This Company?
- How Do You Determine Priorities?
- What Is the Biggest Mistake You’ve Made?
Write down possible answers as you review potential questions, then ask a friend or relative to perform a mock interview with you so you can get comfortable with the questions and imprint the answers in your mind. Ask your interview partner for a review and work on improving your weaknesses. You’ll feel confident and ready when it’s time for the real thing.
Be proactive and ask questions.
Your interviewer will ask if you have any questions at the end of your session. You should always have at least three questions ready to ask; job candidates who don’t ask questions are not as likely to get hired because hiring managers assume they aren’t interested in the role or won’t put much thought into it.
Some questions you might ask for a hair stylist job are:
- What are the prospects for growth in this position?
- What are the team’s strengths?
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this role can expect?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager who are willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job and who you know will give you a stellar review. Even better if they will write a letter of recommendation for you.
If you are applying for your first full-time job and don’t have former colleagues or a manager for reference, ask a former instructor, volunteer coordinator, classmate, or community leader who can vouch for your character and skills.
Resume examples for the next step in your cosmetology career
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Hair Stylist CV Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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