5 Traits of a Great Stylist

The Joy of Styling

Many stylists start as kids fascinated by hair, makeup, and even clothes as a form of expression. Whether it is styling siblings or playing stylist to dolls, that passion and joy for styling can translate into a great career as a stylist. Some traits of a great stylist are taught, while others just come naturally. To work in beauty and cosmetology, it helps to know what makes a great stylist and how to build on existing skills to keep growing.

1. Be a Great Listener

Hairdressers are often the person that clients trust with secrets they won’t even tell their therapist. A true blue stylist who listens will help clarify the client’s desires, discuss treatment options, and walk through consultations with positive energy about the possibilities. Make sure you and the client are on the same page, and while they’re in the chair, engage them in conversation and keep them talking to make the time go faster. Be sure to reiterate what they say to get a clear understanding before the following steps, like trimming or cutting hair after color.

2. Have a Vision and Stay on Trend

A good stylist will always stay up on current trends. Read magazines, attend events, and be sure to know what styles are fresh at the moment. Clients who see their vision become a reality are more likely to become repeat customers. What makes a good stylist great is knowing their aesthetic and how they like to bring their client’s visions to life.

3. Put Honesty First

Learning face shapes, styles, and the right cuts for different people is difficult. A great stylist will be honest about what will look good on a person and offer recommendations to meet their vision and leave satisfied. If clients are happy, they are more likely to provide a positive review online or to their friends and become repeat customers. Be sure to discuss prices and additional costs to add what they want to their hairstyle or color. Don’t let sticker shock be the reason a customer doesn’t return to your chair.

4. Always Build Your Skill Set

Hairstylists need both technical and practical skills to do hair. Education is only part of it. The other part is keeping up with training and trends and growing those skills. A good stylist is committed to learning new techniques that make hair look amazing. Look for continuing education courses and become familiar with the tools of the trade to make your client feel amazing.

5. Stay Flexible & Adaptable

A great stylist knows things can often go off the rails so it’s important to be ready to adapt to a client’s needs and requests. Either they are happy with something you didn’t expect or they feel it wasn’t quite what they hoped for, but adaptability on your part is critical. A pro stylist will handle challenging requests with composure and honesty about what’s possible. Be willing to expand your repertoire of what you can do to assist clients better and be flexible when they’re in the chair and want to adapt or change something as long as there’s still time to do so.

Is this you?

Consider touring the Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology to see if training for a career in the salon is proper for you. We’re the largest, best-in-class facility in Ohio and have a large student body ready to help you hone your skills and practice your craft.

Call us today!