Hairdressing professional
Level 2 · IntermediateHair and beauty 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Hairdressing Professional apprenticeship at Level 2 gives you the core skills to cut, colour, and style hair for male and female clients in a professional salon environment. You will learn to consult with clients, recommend services, and deliver high-quality technical work safely and hygienically. It leads to employment as a qualified stylist and can progress to senior stylist, colourist, or salon management pathways.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Client consultation, hair analysis, and service planning
Cutting techniques - graduation, layering, and scissor-over-comb
Colouring and lightening - application, timing, and aftercare
Styling and finishing using heat tools and products
Shampooing, conditioning, and scalp health
Salon safety, hygiene, and COSHH for chemical services
Retail recommendation and client communication skills
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Consult with clients to agree on style and colour choices
Shampoo and condition hair using correct techniques
Cut and shape hair using scissors, clippers, and razors
Apply and develop colour and lightening treatments
Blow-dry, set, and finish hair to a professional standard
Maintain a clean and hygienic salon workstation
Advise clients on home care products and maintenance
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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