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Hairstyling is one of the passions that can be turned into lucrative business these days. And while you can earn a decent amount when you use your love for hairstyling as a side job, enrolling in an actual hairdressing course in Singapore with structured lessons and certification will put you on a professional level in the industry.
At Imelda, our Hair Fashion and Design Course includes Basic Hairstyling as one of the main modules. But why should you enrol to be a professional hair specialist when you have practical, real-life experiences gained with just your passion?
Growth and bright future in the Hairstyling field
The Straits Times reported in February 2018 that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has acknowledged that the hairdressers in Singapore earned more compared to the past. More specifically, MAS cited that hairdressers in the country earn 82% closer to the median wage than their counterparts in the UK (44%), the US (68%) and Australia (32%). (source)
It should also be noted that Industry ARC’s market research has revealed that the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the professional hair care product market in Singapore is forecasted to be at least 1.8% within the 2018-2023 period. When it comes to services, hair colouring is expected to increase in the same period at a CAGR of 2.5%, which means it’s even more lucrative than other hair services. (source)
Career boost in the Hairstyling Industry
You may start to develop your hairstyling skills simply because you love to style hair or do haircuts. In short, you do it as a hobby. Entering the industry with this passion, you will start to learn more about haircut, hairdo and hairstyling techniques through practical experiences. However, your professional growth may only be limited based on what you’ll encounter. To be able to boost your career, to have a greater understanding of the nature of hair and to become a versatile hairstylist regardless of the type of hair you’ll be facing, you must understand the fundamentals of hair, the basic styling techniques and the essential tools. You can achieve these through enrolling in an established and respectable hairdressing school in Singapore, especially one that’s recognised by applicable institutes such as the country’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE).
A hair fashion and design course with National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (NITEC) in Services will require around 40 hours a week for nine months if you’re a full-time student and 17.5 hours a week for a year for part-time students. This course will allow you to experience both theory and practical lessons in terms of shampoo and head massage, basic haircutting and hairstyling, basic and advanced hair colouring, and hair perming. These are essential techniques to launch your career in the hairstyling industry.
Enrolling in a course will also give you insights on the latest techniques and innovations to ensure that your skills and knowledge are updated. In short, you can be sure that you don’t just know classic hairstyles, but also ones that suit modern trends (source1, source2, source3, source4).
The things you learn from a NITEC or ITE hairstyling course will help you do your job effectively and quickly with higher efficiency. Your abilities will open doors to career advancement and promotion, and ultimately, you will gain veteran status in no time.
Demand for trendy hairstyles are on the rise
These days, people are going the extra mile to maintain a presentable image, and thus, are more willing to pay for hair and beauty services. Even men are more conscious of their looks and are willing to splurge on good grooming. Also, with the popularity of social media, many people would prefer to have their hair services done by professionals to ensure looking their best in photos especially during special occasions.
Besides, young Singaporean consumers in particular are more adventurous with new hairstyles and hair colours. They are always ready to pick up new and exciting trends, which can be influenced and picked up through social media. The younger generation are also fond of expressing themselves in many ways like sporting eye-catching hair colours or donning eccentric hairstyles. (source)
Furthermore, Changi Airport is one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia and also serves as a common stop between Europe and Australia. This means that there are millions of tourists, expats (source) and foreign workers (source) who may be looking for hair salons while in Singapore. However, ethnicity is one of the factors affecting hair structure (source), and thus, a fundamental knowledge of hair characteristics is important so you can create the perfect hairstyles for each individual.
Qualified Hairstylists with Certifications are preferred
Most hair establishment prefer “Senior Stylists” who have higher rates and experience. The 2018 Straits Times Report disclosed that a seasoned hairstylist can earn approximately $10,000 per month, quoting Simon Lee, founder of Hair & Cosmetology Association in Singapore. One can even earn more if one gains veteran status or owns a prestigious salon.
Before you can gain a more senior status, however, it’s essential to have the necessary skills and knowledge on hair fashion and design. Thus, enrolling in a structured course with both theoretical and practical lessons is the best thing you can do. Opt for a course that offers an industry-recognized certificate, as this can also give your clients the assurance knowing that their crowning glory is under the care of a qualified hairstylist. Check out Imelda’s NITEC Hair Fashion & Design course to find out more about the techniques and theories you can master.
According to Mr. Lee, basic wage for entry-level apprentices may only be $1,200 a month, but this can be compensated through the commissions they receive. This shouldn’t discourage you though. By enrolling in a respectable hair fashion and design course, you can definitely fast-track your career advancement in the hairstyling industry.
Practical training with little book study required
A good NITEC hairstyling course is generally around 70% practical lessons and 30% theory. That means you’ll mostly do hands-on training to ensure that you will be haircutting, hairstyling, colouring and perming correctly by the time you have to do the real job. Practical lessons are important when it comes to skills training, such as hairstyling, because you’ll learn and understand more when you actually do things. As the popular saying goes, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
Work Schedule Flexibility
Professional hairstylists can choose to work in a salon that requires fixed working hours or shifts (source1, source2), but they can also opt to take advantage of high work schedule flexibility available to them. Many hair salons and beauty spas in Singapore, and around the world, will allow their employees to work more or less hours/days than usual to suit the lifestyle of the employees.
Outside of salons and related establishments, hairstylists can do “client visits” to provide the hair services in their clients’ homes or in venues where the weddings, concerts and other events will be held. Scheduling these visits will allow the hairstylists to manage their own time effectively and efficiently. Other professionals may opt to be independent and become a freelance hairstylist.
High Employment Rate for Hairdressers
With the hairstyling industry in Singapore appearing “rosy” according to MAS and with the high demand for trendy hairstyles, employment for hairdressers will surely be in high demand. In fact, the Singapore-based job search websites are loaded with job offers for hairdressers and hair technicians. Moreover, after finishing your hair fashion and design course, there are plenty of opportunities for you aside from being a hairstylist. For example, you can work as a hair-care consultant; an instructor for aspiring apprentices or as a manager overseeing day-to-day operations. You may also consider running your own hair and beauty spa.
Job Satisfaction
For many individuals, job satisfaction is more important than their salary. And while Mr. Lee disclosed that wage for entry-level apprentices may be low, being in the hair fashion and design industry still provides great job satisfaction in many ways.
First, if you love social interaction, being a hair stylist is the perfect job for you as you will have many opportunities to interact and communicate with your clients when finding out about their preferences and advising on the services to achieve the expected results. Also, when you’re in the process of styling hair, having conversations with the clients is a great way to alleviate boredom as well as build rapport.
Second, the job gives you a chance to help others build confidence by giving them the hair design and style that best complement their head shape and facial features. This will give you a feeling of satisfaction and achievement knowing that you have a positive impact on your clients’ lives.
Third, being a hairstylist allows you to apply your technical knowledge every day as you solve your clients’ problems creatively. This will give you a sense of worth knowing that your job is helping other people while you progress professionally as you experiment with the various types of hair and hair problems every day.
Personal Satisfaction
Aside from the professional job satisfaction you can gain, being a hair design and fashion specialist also has its personal perks. You can use your skills to give your loved ones the best hairstyles that will make them look stunning on special occasions, such as your mom’s 60th birthday or your nieces’ 18th birthday debut party. Seeing them having a great time on their special events will definitely give you happiness and a sense of pride on your work.
Conclusion
Enrolling in a professional hair fashion and design course in Singapore will not be a waste of time and money because as mentioned earlier, there is a forecasted growth in the industry as well as increase in demand in the next few years. Thus, you can be sure that you can put the technical and theoretical knowledge to good use.
Enrol in our NITEC-recognised Beauty Course which includes Hair Dressing Course. Check out the course detail here.