Location
Geography plays a big role in hairdresser earnings. There are two different ways that are significant:
Regional Differences in Pay
Some parts of the UK have higher average wages than others. Generally speaking, London and the surrounding areas pay more than Scotland, Wales, or Cornwall. However, moving to a high-paying location isn’t always practical.
Affluent Local Areas
Even within lower-income regions, there are more affluent communities where people have higher disposable income for beauty treatments. Mobile stylists who target these wealthier areas can maximise their earnings by catering to clients willing to pay more for convenience.
Experience and qualifications
Every hairdresser starts at the bottom and works their way up in experience, skills, and earnings. Those who make hairdressing a lucrative career continually improve their techniques and value.
Get Qualified
To build a strong foundation, obtaining the right qualifications is crucial. Salons and freelance clients pay more for skilled professionals. If you’re just starting out, aim to complete:
- The National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Hairdressing (ideally up to Level 3)
- Additional diplomas, courses, or certifications to expand your skillset
Type of work as a hairdresser
As mentioned earlier, hairdressing is a diverse field, offering various career paths:
Salon Work
If you want to work in a salon or focus on regular, public-facing styling, then that’s absolutely fine and can help give you a solid income and a regular rota of hours to work each week.
Freelance & Mobile Hairdressing
More flexible and potentially more lucrative, especially in high-income areas.
Creative and Specialised Fields
If you want to be creative and have more of an entrepreneurial spirit, then some of the other opportunities like media and fashion are well worth exploring.
- Media & Fashion hairdressing can be high-paying but competitive.
- Bridal Hairdressing is extremely lucrative—brides and bridesmaids are willing to pay top dollar for perfect wedding-day styling.
If you go freelance, you don’t have to be restricted to one type of hairdressing: it’s perfectly possible to work for different people on different types of styling one day to the next. If you have the skills and you’re willing to travel, it’s one of the best ways to take your earnings to the next level.
Employment status
One of the biggest variations in how much hairdressers can make is the type of employment they pursue.
Your employment setup significantly affects how much you can earn.
Working for a Salon
- Provides a steady pay cheque but limits your earning potential to employer pay scales.
- Can be difficult to get salary increases, often requiring switching salons for better pay.
Freelancing / Mobile Hairdressing
- No income ceiling—you set your own prices.
- You control your hours, but you must factor in costs (covered in the next section).
Costs
For every pound that you earn as a self-employed hairdresser, you’ll lose a fair chunk of it to cover various costs that you’ll incur. For example, if you’re operating from a salon, then you’ll have to pay to rent one of their chairs: this can often cost as much as £20-30 an hour, depending on location and type of salon.
If you’re self-employed, your earnings aren’t just what you take home—several expenses eat into your income:
Salon Chair Rental
- If renting a chair in a salon, this can cost £20-30 per hour depending on the location.
Everyday Business Expenses
- Equipment & maintenance
- Transport costs (to clients’ homes or salons)
- Advertising & marketing
- Hairdressing insurance
- Taxes & National Insurance (though some expenses are tax-deductible)
Read our guide to small business taxes for more information in this area.
Hours worked and rates of pay
There’s a similar divergence between employed and self-employed hairdressers when it comes to working hours and typical pay rates.
Employed Hairdressers
If you’re employed full-time or part-time, then you’ll be working to a fixed salary, or to an hourly rate which would mean your earnings go up and down depending on the number of hours you’re given. However, you may also find that you can earn more per hour by working shifts at less sociable times, such as at weekends.
Self-Employed Hairdressers
If you’re self-employed, then it’s up to you how much you make, in terms of the hours you work and the rates you charge (taking into account your expenses as mentioned previously). You have total freedom to adjust these over time as you see fit, and to create offers and incentives that attract new customers and encourage repeat business: for example, offering a loyalty discount for your regulars.