Is Hair Design Actually a Difficult Field?

If you’re looking into different cosmetology specialties, you might come across the field of hair design. Hair design deals specifically with the cutting, styling and coloring of hair. If you’ve ever tried to cut your own bangs, chances are you understand that hair is more complicated than it might seem, but you might not know why. What makes hair design a difficult enough field that it requires proper training? Here are a few of the things that make hair design a truly difficult field.

1. Different Hair Types Require Different Care

There are all sorts of different hair types out there. Typically, hair is either fine, medium or thick. Then it’s also straight, wavy, curly or coiled. These elements of hair mesh together to create 12 different types of hair, each of which requires special attention. It can be difficult enough to commit the 12 different types of hair to memory, much less to be able to differentiate them and remember how to care for each. In a hair design course, you’ll learn this important information, then you’ll practice it over and over again until it sticks.

2. Every Person Wants Something Unique for Their Hair

Even if it’s only slightly different, it’s common not to find two people who want exactly the same style in exactly the same way. Even when two people bring in pictures of the same celebrity or TV show, chances are they want something that frames their face slightly differently. As a hair design specialist, it’s up to you to take these reference photos and descriptions and turn them into something your clients are going to love every time they look in the mirror.

3. Styles and Trends Change Often

The haircuts and hairstyles that are “on-trend” today may be “so last season” tomorrow. You need to be able to stay on top of these trends and learn more about how they’re changing and growing. Although there are definitely clients who will come in with a specific desire that they’re just unwilling to budge on, there will be just as many clients who come in with a vague idea of their ideal hairstyle, wanting you to help them find a version of it they enjoy.

Knowing more about the current styles and trends is what hair design courses will teach you.

4. You’re Dealing With Clients, Not Just Hair

Almost anyone can learn how to cut and style hair on a mannequin, but once you get into a salon, that’s not what you’re going to be doing. Cutting and styling a real person’s hair is dramatically different from cutting and styling hair on a mannequin, and not everyone can do it. You need to be able to engage with your clients, to understand exactly what they’re asking for, to discuss their desires with them, and to make them feel at home in your salon. Hair design requires a lot of people skills, and that makes it distinctly difficult.

5. You’ll Make an Impact for Weeks and Months

You have to care about every single one of your clients as a person, not just as a haircut. When your client leaves the salon, they’re going to look at that haircut every time they look in the mirror for weeks or months. Their hairstyle is going to make an impact on the people around them for that length of time as well. If you aren’t able to care about these clients, you probably won’t do very well in the world of hair design, and that can be a difficult bar to clear.

Conclusion

Hair design is not for everyone. It’s not just about being able to lop off hair in a straight line; it’s about being able to understand someone’s hair type, help them realize what hairstyle they’re looking for, and delivering that hairstyle to them in an effective way. Not everyone can do that, and it’s what makes great hair design specialists so valuable. If you think you meet all these criteria, you can get more information about Evergreen Beauty College’s hair design program.

The world is always in need of more hair design specialists, after all. Contact us for more information on how you can get started today!