When a job seeker is being interviewed for a hairdressing job, the interviewer wants to know about their experience, skills, qualifications, and professional background.
Most questions will be aimed at finding out how well one knows the hairdresser or barber job.
If you are appearing at an interview for the position of hairdresser, you will need to make sure that you are aware of at least some of the hairdresser questions and their possible answers.
Here are the top 40 questions, along with answers, that you may expect in the hairdresser interview:
40 Common Interview Questions and Answers for Hairdresser Position
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a passionate hairdresser who has 9+ years of experience working as a hairdresser and barber at top salons. I enjoy working in a team to provide the best possible customer service.
2. What credentials do you have as a hairdresser?
I have an associate’s degree in cosmetology, and I have recently updated my hairstylist certification.
3. Why did you choose the hairdressing field?
My interest in this work stems from the time I realized that the work involved many aspects and the fact that there was a lot of learning in this position. I had been interested in personal services for some time and eventually made my career in hairdressing.
4. Why do you want to work for our salon?
Your salon holds a great reputation for excellent hair and skin care services. I want to be part of your salon because I want to be part of an organization that excels in ways that yours do. Also, the immense learning and contribution possible is a great motivator.
5. What are some of the main duties that hairdressers perform on a regular basis?
- haircuts and other grooming work
- analyzing their hair and skin to determine what type of treatments are required
- offering manicure, pedicure, and facials
- styling customers’ beards
- scheduling appointments
- providing follow-up
6. Tell me about your job experience.
I have been working as a hairdresser for almost a decade now. During this time, I have performed many duties including assessing clients’ hair types, providing treatment suggestions, treating hair with oil and steam, and performing dyeing services. In addition, I have been busy developing new styles and techniques, and conditioning hair according to required styles.
7. What do you think is the most critical part of a hairdresser’s work? Why?
Customer service is an essential part of working as a hairdresser. You need to be able to make customers comfortable with you as they are in a vulnerable position. You need to give them confidence that they will look nice once the treatment is finished and you need to make sure that they come back to you.
8. What are some of the essential non-styling duties of a hairdresser?
Hairdressers have more responsibilities than merely cutting and styling customers’ hair. They need to make sure that tools of the trade are sterilized after every use, the spa is clean, and appointments are scheduled. They also handle cashier duties along with up-selling retail products.
9. Which skill or skills have made you successful in your position as a hairdresser?
My customer service skills have earned me quite a lot of business through word of mouth from satisfied customers. Also, my ability to style customers’ hair creatively is quite popular.
10. As far as marketing the facility and its services are concerned, where do hairdressers stand?
Hairdressers do not only provide grooming and cutting services. They are also responsible for marketing the services of the facility that they represent. Reaching out to potential customers to provide them with information on new or improved services, creating outreach materials such as pamphlets, and actively upselling the salon’s products are some of the marketing duties of a hairdresser.
11. How do you keep up with the work considering one has to be on one’s toes all the time?
If I am enjoying my work, I do not feel tired or bored. In fact, lulls in my work can make me feel as if I am not giving it my best.
12. What is your most significant achievement in the role of a hairdresser?
The salon that I was working for was employed by a local theater club some years ago. There were just 2 of us who handled the hairdressing part of the salon. On the day of the event, the other hairdresser called in sick, leaving me to provide hairdressing services to all 23 performers. Thankfully, all went well. I consider this as my most significant achievement so far.
13. How do you keep up with the times where hair fashion is concerned?
I do a lot of research to find out what new trends are. In addition to this, I am in constant training mode as I feel that to be able to keep up with the times, one has to stay in the loop constantly.
14. What do you know about the retail end of a hairdresser’s work?
The place where I am currently employed sells many hair and skincare products. I am well-versed in selling and upselling products such as conditioners, hair dyes, and serums.
15. What treatment would you recommend if a client came in with hair damaged due to excessive dyeing?
I would suggest oil and steam treatments, along with a good cut. Specific cuts and treatments will depend on the extent of the damage.
16. How do you stay updated on current hairdressing trends?
I keep my eyes and ears open when it comes to my work. I keep in constant contact with fashion gurus that I have worked with and assess what the competition is doing as well.
17. What would you do if you noticed that a former client had decided to get their hair done by a coworker?
I would feel that there was something lacking in my work that made the client move to someone else. So, I will ask what the coworker does so that I can better myself.
18. What is your key strength?
My main strength is the ability to determine what clients want, by simply engaging them in conversation. I can assess clients’ hair types and textures, and can easily provide corresponding services to their satisfaction.
19. What is your greatest weakness?
I have recently overcome a weakness, which was being consistently dissatisfied with my work. Even though I was told many times that my work is excellent, I kept feeling that I could do it much better. Now, I feel that I give it my best, and the work does turn out to be the best possible.
20. What is the toughest thing about working as a hairdresser?
The most challenging part of working as a hairdresser is client satisfaction. We all do our best but sometimes, it is not enough.
21. Have you ever had a dissatisfied client?
Yes. It is not always possible to satisfy everyone. There was a time when a client whose hair I had dyed was not satisfied with the color, even though it was the exact shade that she wanted. She said a lot of unsavory things to me, but I kept my cool. Even my supervisor said that the color was the same as she had wanted it. We are still not sure why she said I didn’t perform as expected.
22. What discourages you?
The good thing about me is that I am never discouraged. In fact, when the going gets tough, I take it as an opportunity to learn, and this motivates me even further.
23. How do you build relationships with your clients?
I am great at relationship-building as I am a great conversationalist. I reach out to even the most reluctant clients and offer information that they might be interested in. I listen carefully and show interest in what they have to say. And then keep them in the loop constantly.
24. What hairstyle would you recommend to a client with thin hair?
Short length and straight cuts make thin hair look thicker. I would also suggest that they use hair fiber to help cover bald patches.
25. How do you handle being consistently physically active?
I am a physically dexterous person, who has no issues working on her feet. I love the fact that I get to be active. It keeps me in good shape.
26. What have you learned from your mistakes?
I have learned that you should only make suggestions to a certain extent, and not force the client to get a certain hairstyle or cut. I did that once, as I was confident that it would suit her face structure. However, it did not produce the desired results, and the outcome was quite terrible.
27. If a client asks you to give you a hairstyle or cut that you know wouldn’t suit them, how would you react?
I would suggest variations of the same style so that they can have what they want, and still look great.
28. Apart from hair care services, what else do you offer?
I am trained in other areas such as skincare and massage too.
29. Why do you want to leave your current workplace?
I love the place that I am working for at the moment. However, I feel a bit stagnated here and would like to work in a capacity where I can learn continuously.
30. What is the one skill that you possess that you are sure not many do?
I have several ways of performing hair care treatments for frizzy and thin hair, which are trade secrets. A lot of clients obtain the salon’s services because of this.
31. What is the most enjoyable part of your present job?
Meeting new people is the most enjoyable part of my present job. I love meeting new people, and this is the perfect avenue to do that.
32. What would you do if a client asked you to provide your services in a personal capacity, away from the salon?
Some salons allow moonlighting, even with their own clients. I would make sure that I follow protocol and procedure before I say yes or no to the client.
33. How would you react if you were asked to do something unethical at work?
I would simply refuse to do so. I don’t do things that are unethical, as I am not ready to face their burden on me later.
34. What challenging work have you performed in your professional life?
There was a wedding where I was supposed to do the bride’s hair. Her hair came down to her ankles, so it was very difficult to keep it in place. After 3 hours of trying, I finally came up with a hairstyle that would look good on her, and not weigh her head down.
35. How do you market your salon’s services?
I do not have to market the salon directly, to be honest. The management takes care of that. However, I do put up my work on social media and hashtag my salon in it. Of course, word of mouth is a given.
36. What would your colleagues say about you?
I am sure that my colleagues will say that I am an extremely easy person to work with. They will also mention that I am a pleasant individual, who has the capacity to go well beyond the call of duty.
37. Tell me of a time when you disagreed with a decision. What was the outcome?
I was once working for a salon where the manager wanted to sell low-quality skincare products and pocket the difference. I told her that this was not right, and she told me that I could either keep her secret or leave the job. I quit that very second.
38. When can you start working with us?
I have to provide a 30-day notice to my present employer. After that, I would like to take 5 working days off so that I can have some downtime. I haven’t had a day off for 6 months. I can join immediately after that.
39. How long would you expect to work with our salon?
I would like to work and contribute for as long as possible, as I see that you provide great opportunities for growth and development. Both are greatly important to me.
40. What are your 5-year plans?
I am working hard to get a supervisory or managerial role within a busy salon in the next 5 years.
See also: Hairdresser Resume
Final Thought
As shown above, every question in a Hairdresser interview is based on one question, that is:
“Why should we hire you?”
The purpose of this question is to determine if you are the candidate that an employer is looking for.
- Do you have what an employer is looking for?
- Do you fill the criteria for a particular position?
- Can you do what you claim you can once you are hired?
It is important for candidates to ensure that they provide the answers in accordance with the employer’s needs.