Who is a Hairdresser?
A hairdresser is a person or worker skilled in hairdressing. Hairdressing is an occupation focused on cutting and styling hair to change or improve someone’s appearance. These skilled workers use a combination of processes such as; haircutting, hair coloring as well as hair texturing in their attempt to make people look better.

Other closely related titles

1. Hairstylist
2. Beauty therapist
3. Beautician
4. Masseurs

What is the work environment?
Hairdressers generally work indoors. Freelance hairdressers may visit client’s premises to offer their services.

What are some career opportunities?
Hairdressers work in various places such as; salons, barbershops, beauty retail shops, hotels, spas or resorts among other places. Hairdressers can also start their own hairdressing businesses.

How to become a hairdresser

High school mean grade requirement
To pursue a career as a hairdresser right from high school, a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of D-(minus) and below is required.

Education and Training Routes
If you score a KCSE mean grade D-(minus) and below, you can proceed to a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college and enroll for appropriate artisan course. Artisan courses are also offered within Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) within your region.

So what artisan course(s) can you pursue in TVET colleges?

1. Artisan in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
2. Grade III in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
3. NVCET I & II in hairdressing and beauty therapy
4. Or Similar/ related courses

Education Progression
After a successful completion of an artisan course, you can advance your education upward (in a relevant field) up to university level if that’s your goal. How is this possible?

1. Get artisan certificate
2. Advance to craft certificate, (in a relevant field)
3. Advance to diploma certificate, (in a relevant field)
4. Advance to degree certificate, (in a relevant field)

Some important skills to have
Hairdressers need to have some important skills such as;

1. Tidiness & presentable
2. Creative skills
3. Customer service skills
4. Listening skills
5. Physical stamina
6. Communication skills
7. Among others

How to Join TVET College.
There are two ways you can follow to join training institution(s) in pursuit of your career of choice. The majority way is applying through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps). This is a state owned agency that admits/ places government sponsored students to TVET colleges and universities. One of the advantages of applying through Kuccps is that, upon successful placement, you will pay subsidized fee as a government sponsored student.

To be placed through Kuccps you must have attained a certain pass mark required for various education levels for such as degrees, diplomas, certificates and artisan courses. For more details on placement criteria, visit Kuccps website. The second approach is applying directly to training institution of your choice. Students who opt to apply this way do not get government fee subsidy and are therefore self-sponsored.

How to fund your post-secondary education.
If you are a needy student, upon application, you can get education loan from Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), a state owned institution that gives education loans to students joining technical colleges and universities. You can also access education bursaries from your local Member of Parliament (MP) or the County Government among other sources.

Always remember this!
Information provided on this website is for career awareness only, and not for any other purpose.

We know career life will take a significant part of your life journey, and your career choice will greatly influence how that journey unfolds. Therefore, before you make any career choice, before you commit yourself to any career or study option, be sure of what you are doing. It is advisable to seek professional advice from career advisors to navigate this very important process.

Need more information? We can provide you with additional career and education related information to meet your individual needs.