Hairdressers provide a service by styling, maintaining, cutting and colouring their clients' hair to help enhance their appearance.

Skilled hairdressers are knowledgeable about many different cutting techniques, colouring and the chemicals involved, curling and barbering. These processes and techniques are essential in fulfilling a client's wishes.

A career in hairdressing requires creativity and manual dexterity, as well as interest in fashion and knowledge of new developments. Hairdressers should also have basic knowledge of medical problems connected to the scalp and hair as they are often consulted on these issues. This is a popular and rewarding career as many hairdressers said they felt appreciated by their clients (City & Guilds Happiness Survey 2008).