Would you enjoy helping people to look and feel good? Are you interested in developing your practical and creative skills? If so, this career area may be what you’re looking for.

Fashion trends and the development of new cosmetic, beauty and hair care products are important factors for change in the industry. The use of barber shops has been growing due to the trend for male grooming with beard grooming being very popular.

What areas can I work in?

This career area includes: hairdressing, barbering, salon management, beauty therapy, nail therapy, spa therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, make-up artistry and body art (tattooing and piercing).

Related work is also available in other areas such as: reception (although online booking is growing in popularity in larger salons and salon chains), sales, marketing, and hospitality and tourism (in health spas and holiday resorts).

To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Pathway.

What kind of companies can I work for?

Possible employers include:

• hairdressing salons (some also offer beauty treatments)
• barber shops
• beauty therapy salons
• nail bars
• health and beauty spas and centres
• tanning salons
• beauty therapy salons or related services in other businesses (such as large department stores, hotels, cruise ships, airlines, leisure centres, wedding consultants, film/TV studios and theatre companies)
• colleges and training centres (for well qualified tutors and lecturers)
• tattoo and piercing studios.

What’s the job market like?

As of March 2024 in Scotland, there were 12,600 people working in this industry, with 7,400 hairdressers and barbers, and 5,200 beauticians and related occupations. ⁵

Despite the decline in the number of people working in this industry, the number of hair and beauty businesses in the UK continued to grow, at a slower rate than the previous year, at 2.2%, totalling 61,000 businesses. ²

Due to the nature of this work, average salaries are low and levels of self-employment are high. Over 60% of people working in the hair and beauty sector are self-employed. More than 77% of hair and beauty businesses employ fewer than five people and 95% fewer than 10. ²

The prospects for hair and beauty businesses in the UK remain resilient, with survival rates for all businesses remaining stable. ² However businesses have reported concerns relating to hiring experienced staff - and hiring apprentices, of which there has been a reported drop in recruitment numbers. 4

Facts and figures

• The UK hair and beauty industry generated £4.56 billion in turnover in 2022-2023. ²
• Of this, skincare services were estimated to account for £172.7 million, or 4%, of this turnover in 2022-23. ³
• As of March 2024, there were 11,900 people working as hairdressing and beauty salon managers and proprietors in the UK. ¹
• Over 86% of the hairdressing and beauty workforce is female. ²
• Less than half the workforce in this industry are aged 16-24. ²

Want to find out more?

You will find useful information on careers and qualifications in the industry on the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (Habia) website. Habia is now part of the SkillsActive Group.

SkillsActive is the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being.

Sources

¹ Annual Population Survey - Occupation by sex, employment status and full/part-time - UK, NOMIS (December 2023)

² 2023 Industry Statistics for Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty, National Hairdressing and Beauty Federation (NHBF)

³ Market Report: Make-Up Artist, December 2023, Business Gateway

⁴ State of the Industry Survey Summary – January 2024, National Hairdressing and Beauty Federation (NHBF)

⁵ Annual Population Survey - Occupation by sex, employment status and full/part-time - Scotland, NOMIS (March 2024)

Video

Career Pathway