- A hairstylist is a beauty professional who specializes in styling and arranging hair for people. A hairstylist receives training in a beauty or cosmetology school and gets licensed before attaining work at a salon. Some hairstylists work from their homes or on movie and film sets, while others work exclusively for celebrities as their personal hairstylists. Hairstylists that work exclusively for the entertainment industry (e.g. films, fashion magazine shoots) are employed by agencies that provide them with consistent work for a small percentage of earnings.
- A hairstylist spends a workday involved with all aspects of styling hair, including cutting, curling, straightening, dyeing and highlighting as well as creating sophisticated updos for formal occasions. A hairstylist who works at a beauty salon arrives to work early every day and spends the entire workday styling hair for regular and walk-in clients. At first the hairstylist consults with a client to determine the exact look that is wanted. Some clients may bring in photos of their desired look and it is up to the hairstylist to achieve the same look for them. In addition to giving clients their desired cut, color and style, hairstylists must deal with clients who are not satisfied with their hairdo. She must be willing to fix the problem or change the style for the client at no extra charge.
- A hairstylist's workday on film sets or at fashion shoots still consists of styling hair, but in these settings the hairstylist must adhere to the creative director's vision instead of the client's. For example, a director of a period piece will want the hairstyles of the actresses and actors to adhere to the traditional hairstyles of the particular era. The hairstylist must be able to re-create these looks to give the film an authentic feel. The same holds true for a photo shoot for a fashion magazine where the creative director will have a specific vision for the look of the shoot and the hairstylist must be able to create those styles. Thus, a typical workday on a film or fashion set consists of consulting with the creative director to achieve the desired style. Depending on the desired look, the hairstylist may have to quickly dye the actress's or model's hair, add hair extensions, create an elaborate updo or even shave off all the hair. Moreover, a hairstylist may work with actors or models to change hairstyles several times during the day: from curly to straight or from an updo to leaving the hair down.
