A new survey conducted by VTCT Skills showcases the needs, wants, aspirations, and anxieties that the next generation of newly qualified stylists are facing.
We wanted to speak to a variety of people in the industry to discuss these findings, what stands out, what they resonate with, and how we can use this information to better the future of the industry.
This week, we spoke to successful stylist who qualified less than a decade ago, George Newton Beck, who is a stylist at Blue Tit London.
SalonEVO: Upon reading the results of the VTCTs survey, were there any particular elements that stood out to you? Would you say it accurately reflects your experience to an extent? In which areas in-particular?
George: “In reading the report, there were somethings that surprised me based on my own experience. I expected more people to request additional training in Afro hair. I was also surprised by 5% wanting to become an educator. There was also fewer than I expected wanting to be self-employed.
“So far, things I’ve experienced in my career are: More people older are switching and a lot fewer young people. I also see a lot of people going for more of a self-employed role as lots of people love the freedom.”
SalonEVO: The survey found that many newly qualified stylists struggle with confidence building once in the salon, especially in terms of working to a salon-floor ready speed and building up their own clientele. How do you think colleges and/ or salon businesses can help support recently qualified stylists in this adjustment period to help you become confident and efficient enough for a busy salon floor?
George: “I think some vardering scheme would be useful where you still train while doing clients. I also think when assessments are passed, they should be passed off within a certain time limit like you would have in a salon.”
SalonEVO: How have you found the process of building your confidence and your client list? What are some of the in-salon challenges you have faced in this time in your career?
George: I have encountered a lot of confidence issues throughout my career. While I was able to cover them, but you’d always think certain things. I always felt like I had something “missing” for years and only recently, six years into this industry, have I found a much greater understanding. I improved my confidence by expanding my knowledge.”
SalonEVO: Many professionals wished for additional training in advanced techniques, including:
- Colouring expertise (mentioned 27 times)
- Extensions (13 mentions)
- Afro, textured, and curly hair techniques (15 mentions)
- Perming (15 mentions)
Does this resonate with you? Do you feel it is a lack of time spent on these topics within college, or something you needed more time and practice on when you reached the salon floor? Would you/ do you plan to take further education to strengthen any of these (or other) areas of your skillset?
George: “I was surprised with these statistics I think the lack of knowledge when it comes to Afro and textured hair throughout the industry is a big red flag and that’s something that can be changed through colleges. There was also nothing on cutting hair which again surprises me as I see so many professionals not be able to master a one length bob or even the wrap dry. I understand colour as it’s something a lot of people have interests in and I see a lot more people asking for perms and it’s something I see on social media a lot.”
SalonEVO: Building on from the previous question, if you are wanting to enrol in any continuing education courses, would you happily invest in them yourself or would you hope your employer would fully or partly support your efforts? (Ie- pay for and organise education). Would this access to education impact your decision to apply/ take on a role in a salon?
George: “Due to the current climate of the industry unfortunately it’s not always something we can rely on our employers for. However, in a perfect world it would be good for employers to do so as employees don’t always have that extra money on an apprenticeship wage to fund an additional course. I’d always apply to a salon that would want to push me to be a better stylist.”
SalonEVO: Many newly qualified stylists have high aspirations, whether it is to own their own salon one day, to become an educator. What is your personal goal within the industry, and how could the wider industry – colleges, educators, business owners, industry bodies like VTCT, help you reach those goals?
George: “I have recently been doing more and more photoshoots especially when moving to London. I think some kind of section on maybe assisting a stylist on a photoshoot for work experience I think would be really beneficial as it gives students the opportunity to try out a completely different side of hairdressing as it might be much harder to find these opportunities outside of college.”