What Does it Take to Become a Barber?

In recent times, the barbering career has evolved a lot. It is not limited to grooming. A barber has to perform several specific duties such as consulting clients about their style preferences and using scissors, electric clippers and combs to cut and trim hair. As a barber, you should also have a conversation with your clients during styling sessions, manage business records, clean your work area, and maintain other supplies. If you’re interested in setting a career as a barber, you need to enroll in barber Refresher Program. With this program, you can learn hair cutting, barbering, and basic and advanced coloring techniques. 

To become a professional barber you need to- 

Obtain a high school diploma -  Some states prefer barbers with a high school diploma or GED, whereas most states prefer completion of an accredited program in barbering. If you want to kick-start your barbering career, you need a credential proving you have completed your high school.

Become an assistant of a professional barber - Becoming an assistant to a professional barber is one way to discover if you want a barbering career. Besides teaching you how to cut customer’s hair, a professional barber can also help to learn how to converse with clients, manage your work area and maintain the workflow in a shop. 

Complete a program in barbering -  From private beauty schools to community colleges, they offer various programs in barbering either as a stand-alone barbering program or with a cosmetology program. A barbering course helps you to learn the basics of shaping, cutting, coloring and styling hair. These programs also include state and federal laws, safety, sanitation, and shop practices. Some of the programs may also cover customers service and shop promotion. A certificate can be completed in a year whereas diploma programs may take 18 months for completion.

Get licensed - The requirements for a license may vary from one state to another. However, besides completing a barbering program and high school, you also need to clear a qualifying exam. This exam usually includes a written part and seldom an oral or skills test.

Find a job - Once you complete your education and obtain a license, you can either work in a barbershop or start your own business. According to the BLS report, in 2014 nearly 59,200 people worked as barbers, and the number is expected to rise by 10% to 65,100 by 2024. 

Are you interested in hair styling? If yes, you need to register for barber refresher program to learn the basic and advanced barbering skills. To know more about barbering program, contact International Barber Institute.