Hairdressing Apprenticeship: How to Start and What to Expect

When you start a hairdressing apprenticeship, a hands-on training program where you learn to cut, color, and style hair while working in a real salon. Also known as on-the-job hairdressing training, it’s the most common way to become a licensed hair stylist in the UK. Unlike classroom-only courses, you earn while you learn—getting paid by your employer as you build real skills with real clients.

This path isn’t just for teens. People in their 30s, 40s, and beyond are switching into hairdressing because it’s a trade with steady demand, flexible hours, and room to grow. You’ll work under experienced stylists, learn how to use clippers, scissors, and color correctly, and slowly take on more responsibility. Most apprenticeships last 12 to 24 months and lead to an NVQ, a nationally recognized qualification that proves you can do the job, not just pass a test. Also known as National Vocational Qualification, it’s the standard credential employers look for. You won’t need to pass written exams—you’ll build a portfolio of work, show you can handle different hair types, and prove you understand health and safety rules in the salon.

Many of the posts below cover what happens after you finish your apprenticeship: how to get your NVQ certificate, proof you’ve met industry standards through real work, not just theory, what titles you can earn (like senior stylist or color specialist), and how to keep learning without going back to school. You’ll also find real advice on learning to cut hair at home, whether online courses help, and how long training actually takes. Some stylists start with basic cuts and end up working on TV sets or opening their own salons. It’s not magic—it’s practice, patience, and knowing how to listen to clients.

Whether you’re wondering if you’re too old to start, if you can skip school and learn on the job, or how to stand out in a crowded field, the articles here give you straight answers. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you walk into your first salon as an apprentice.