Barber Schools & Career Guide

Barbering 101

Barbering is one of the oldest and most social professions. In ancient times, barbers offered dental services and surgery along with haircutting, hairdressing and shaving. Today, barbers mainly cut hair, but they still offer necessary services at a reasonable cost. Many barbers also enjoy continuing the tradition of the barbershop as a community gathering place.

Imagine the satisfaction of giving children their first haircuts and getting to know regular customers over many years. Although it may not be as glamorous as hair design, good barbers enjoy a reliable clientele and often see customers more frequently. They most often provide classic short haircuts for men, but there are also women who choose barbers for the lower cost. Most barbers offer different rates for men, women and children.

In order to be successful as a barber, you will need to be able to the following:

• Put customers at ease with easy conversation or comfortable silence
• Listen patiently and enjoy being of service
• Cut hair and perform other grooming services efficiently and consistently
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, health and safety
• Keep your own appearance professional and well-groomed

To become a barber, you can attend either cosmetology school or barbering school. In most states, you will need a cosmetology license to practice as a barber. Other states offer a specific license for barbering.

Your Barber Education

What You’ll Study

Most programs are designed to help students pass their written state board exams, but the best schools also give you a lot of hands-on experience. Remember that some barber schools are strictly for a barber license, while others offer complete cosmetology programs.

You will learn the following basic skills:

• Cutting and styling hair
• Chemically treating hair
• Shaving customers and trimming facial hair
• Providing hair and scalp treatments
• Using and caring for instruments
• Exercising proper sanitation and hygiene
• Learning relevant chemistry, anatomy and physiology
• Recognizing common skin diseases

You may also learn to fit and care for wigs and hairpieces. For the best career opportunities, it is beneficial to learn how to provide nail and skin care services, as well as proper coloring, bleaching and highlighting techniques.

Average Length of Study

A full-time barber training program may last from nine to 24 months. In some states, you can choose to receive your training through a one- to three-year apprenticeship instead.

Also, in order for you to maintain your license, most states require you to receive a minimum number of continuing education hours each year.

Average Tuition

Tuition for barbering or cosmetology school will vary depending on where you live and the hours of training required by your state. Programs generally range between $6,500 and $10,000.

Barber Certification and Licensing

Every state has its own requirements for licensing and regulating barbers. In most states, the laws are the same for barbers and cosmetologists, although some states have separate laws for barbers. For example, in some states only barbers are licensed to use a razor to shave customers.

State education requirements vary between 1200 and 2100 school hours. Some states will accept a certain number of apprenticeship hours as an alternative to attending a school. You will have to pass a written exam before you can begin practicing. In many states you will also have to pass a practical test in which your styling skills are judged based on performance criteria. In a few states, there is also an oral examination in which you have to explain what you're doing during the practical test.

Barber Career Overview

Most barbers work in a barbershop while others own their own shops or salons. There are also barbers who prefer to work in salons and view themselves as hairdressers—they are also referred to as “master barbers.”

If you work in a salon or barbershop, you may receive a salary, paid vacations and medical benefits. However, it's more common to rent a chair in a shop and be considered self-employed. Your contract may require that you supply your own tools and products, collect your own fees, and pay your own insurance and taxes. Often the shop will schedule appointments, price services and pay for advertising. These details vary, but it will always be your responsibility to build a loyal client base.

Barber Career Outlook

The “Beginning of a New Barbering Era”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the barber, hair stylist and cosmetology sector is expected to continue to grow through 2014. However, fewer cosmetology school graduates are opting for barbering licenses because they are choosing a more broad hair stylist or cosmetology license. There are also many long-established barbers who will be retiring in the next 10 years.

However, even though barbering is not as popular as it once was, many people still choose to pursue a barbering degree to continue the barbershop tradition and to focus on services designed just for men.

Projected Hair Services Demand

With the expected steady demand for hair services, especially by teens and baby boomers, there is a sizeable market for practical, affordable grooming services. You will be most successful if you learn to do a wide range of services, including shaving, nail care and skin care services.

Once you establish a steady clientele, continuing education can be a great way to advance your career and improve your income. Practicing barbers often take classes to learn advanced hair coloring techniques and complicated hairstyles.

Barber Salaries

The average barber earns about $21,000 per year, including tips. Most barbers earn between $15,000 and $30,000 a year, but the top 10 percent earn more than $43,000.

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Looking for Beauty Schools?

Try our Spa, Massage & Beauty Schools page. There you will find a comprehensive list of schools which offer program descriptions. You can also request information from the schools that interest you most.

Sources:
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 2007.
American Association of Cosmetology Schools, 2007.