Barber
What the work is
Cuts, trims, tapers, colours and shapes hair and facial hair styles, using clippers, razors, scissors and trimmers.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Consults with clients about their desired hair and facial hair styles
- Analyses clients' hair and features to design and recommend styles
- Trims, cuts and styles hair using clippers and scissors
- Shaves and styles facial hair using razors and trimmers
- Demonstrates and sells products for hair and facial hair
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a busy Saturday at a hair salon with a barber's chair in the corner. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A nervous client looks in the mirror and stands a little taller
- A regular who has sat in your chair for years books the next one before leaving
- A tricky colour correction finally comes out exactly as the client pictured it
Hard days
- Running thirty minutes behind with a full waiting area and a client who wants more done
- A client shows you a photo of a cut that will not suit their hair at all
- Standing for hours with sore feet while smiling and keeping the chat going
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 392131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.