Hair Salon Assistant Apprenticeship

Summary

Support stylists with shampooing, blow-drying, and other services Help maintain a clean, organised, and inviting salon space Deliver top-notch customer service and contribute to a positive team culture We’re currently looking for an Apprentice Hair Salon Assistant  to join our warm and professional salon environment.

Wage

£14,133.60 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

It can be increased in the second year.

Training course

Hairdressing professional (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, shifts, may work evenings and weekends.

36 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 8 October 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• A friendly, upbeat, and professional attitude
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Eagerness to learn and grow in the beauty industry
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting
• Previous salon experience is required – training will be provided

Where you'll work

888 ROMFORD ROAD
MANOR PARK
LONDON
E12 5JP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

WALTHAM FOREST COLLEGE

Training course

Hairdressing professional (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.
• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.

Training schedule

• Waltham Forest College - 707 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 4JB
• 1 day a week
• On-site training

More training information

Waltham Forest College is an aspirational place to learn with highly skilled, supportive staff, industry standard specialist facilities and works in partnership with employers. We are proud to be an inclusive college, supporting and encouraging our students to ‘Think BIG’ in achieving their career goals. You will be joining one of the top performing Further Education Colleges in the country (top 5%). Rated as Outstanding by Ofsted, Waltham Forest College also has specialist Mayor of London’s Quality Academy status for HealthCare, Construction, Green Technologies and Hospitality, Creative and Digital and is a WorldSkills UK’s Training Centre of Excellence. This provides an exciting opportunity for our students to further develop world-class skills, embedding excellence and developing the higher-level technical skills that employers need.

Our extensive enrichment programme provides an opportunity for you to make new friends, try new skills and activities and, volunteer and have fun, all in a safe and supporting environment. Whether you are looking to develop new skills and confidence, progress to university, retrain or to study to progress to highly skilled, higher paid employment, we can help springboard your career.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness