Styling Human Hair: How to Become a Hair Stylist

At Wagman Hair, we're proud to offer the finest human hair to stylists around the nation. We specify that it's human hair because many suppliers offer synthetics, which can't match the strength, style and silky smoothness of real human hair.

What's more, most stylists train on real human hair, so making weaves and extensions -- the primary use of the human hair we collect -- out of real hair is a better bet for anyone who wants a stylist to work on their hair after the weave is installed.

And if you're wondering how to become a hairstylist, here are some of the important steps, courtesy of Wagman Hair.

How old are you? If you're still in high school, find out whether your school district has a vocational/technical school where you can take hairstyling classes as part of your general curriculum. Then you can spend part of your day on career training and the rest on traditional school subjects like math, English and history. If your school doesn't have a vo-tech program, find a nearby community college -- you may be able to take classes there, and if you're lucky you may even get course credit for them.

Begin the search for a cosmetology school. Cosmetology school is like college for hairstylists. The biggest difference is that you focus entirely on your trade, rather than taking a variety of liberal arts credits and focusing on a purely academic pursuit. But it'll still be a challenge -- you may have to complete anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 hours of classes to get your degree.

Where do you live? Some states allow you to sign on as an apprentice to an established hairstylist, and even replace some actual school hours with apprenticeship hours. Also, some states require a written test as well as a practical test for graduation, so you may have to complete some multiple choice or essay questions in addition to styling someone's hair. Further, some states require periodical license renewals.

Where do you want to work? Most stylists will begin working in a salon, since that's where the highest concentration of demand is. Some may go on to teach at cosmetology schools, or even work on film sets and television shows (many of these pay very well). Some are also personal stylists for celebrities, politicians or other high-profile clients. But even these highly sought-after jobs will require you to put in some hours working at a salon. Salons are where beginners hone their skills.

Finding a job. The time you're in school is an excellent opportunity to begin the process of making the contacts you need to find the right job. Like many jobs, hairstyling is all about networking -- particularly if you want to get into the more competitive fields, like personal styling and the entertainment industry.

If you're thinking of becoming a hairstylist, stick to working with human hair. Don't settle for working on synthetic weaves and extensions -- go for the gold.