How to hire a stylist assistant

How to hire a stylist assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step stylist assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a stylist assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new stylist assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a stylist assistant job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your stylist assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a stylist assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A stylist assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, stylist assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of stylist assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Stylist Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Stylist Assistant	Barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling and a range of beauty services.	$12-25
   Licensed Cosmetologist	A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.	$11-25
   Hair Dresser	A hairdresser, also known as a hairstylist or beautician, is a person who specializes in the cutting or styling of hair with the goal of enhancing a person's appearance. As a hairdresser, your duties may range from cutting, washing, and styling to hair coloring and employing hair texturing techniques... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Photo Shoots
   • Salon Services
   • Front Desk
   • Cosmetology
   • Product Knowledge
   • Client Appointments
   • Retail Sales
   • Retail Products
   • Editorials
   • Telephone Calls
   • Product Inventory
   • Product Sales

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage beautiful hairstyles with the use of flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, and other hair products.
   • Use and understand cosmetology terminology.
   • Perform cosmetology procedures for customers on a daily basis.
   • Provide hairstylist services/professional makeup/manicures/pedicures and modeling.
   • Attend Redken ombre color class with Justin Issac.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your stylist assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A stylist assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, stylist assistants' average salary in new mexico is 53% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level stylist assistants earn 53% less than senior-level stylist assistants.
   • Certifications. A stylist assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a stylist assistant's salary.

   Average stylist assistant salary

   $36,793yearly

   $17.69 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level stylist assistant salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a stylist assistant job description

   A good stylist assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a stylist assistant job description:

   Stylist assistant job description example

   WHO WE ARE:
   
   We are a leading specialty retailer of casual apparel, footwear and accessories for young men, young women, boys and girls with an extensive assortment of iconic global, emerging, and proprietary brands rooted in an active and social lifestyle. We are based out of sunny Southern California at the Tilly's RSC. You'll hear the term RSC a lot, it stands for Retail Support Center since our corporate offices are here to support our retail and online stores.
   
   Working at Tillys allows you to experience a new style of work life. Our work culture is fun and relaxed. We encourage you to be you and that means you should be comfortable. Our employees enjoy a casual dress code and a fun, fast paced work environment where creative minds work together to achieve common goals. As a part of the team you'll contribute towards and share in our success. A career at Tillys is all about working together to make things happen… so what are you waiting for?
   
   SUMMARY:
   
   The following is a brief description of responsibilities to be performed by the Stylist Assistant. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
   
   ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   * Supporting Stylists on set working the day to day e-commerce product shoots. This includes steaming, pulling accessories and organizing and returning racks
   * Assist stylists in meeting daily product goals met by managing on-model priorities and completion
   * Help stylists dress and prepare models for photography
   * Organize styling closet daily, keeping it maintained and up to date
   * Maintain sample traffic between studio and warehouse. Work closely with sample coordinators to return samples (in house)
   * Maintain a clean and organized studio space
   * Ability to adapt to a fast-paced studio work environment
   * A positive personality and ability to exhibit proper studio protocol
   * Maintain a strong eye for details
   * Gather and present fresh styling ideas and inspiration to team
   * Works with e-commerce merchandising team to accurately represent the collection of products and brand online
   * Managing the release of new items and online catalogs in synch with catalog drops; quality assurance testing.
   * Responsible for the assignment of item cross-sells and up-sells, refreshing with each season.
   * Assist with UGC approval process.
   * Assist with product copy and other site merchandising as needed.
   * Perform other duties as assigned and apparent
   
   QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
   
   * Trend and fashion awareness with ability to understand current trends, competition and market.
   * Must be able to recognize forward trends and help interpret for Tilly's target customer.
   * Proficient in the use of Illustrator and Photoshop as well as Excel and MS Word.
   * Strong time management and organizational skills required.
   * Must have polished interpersonal, communication, networking and presentation skills.
   * Meets deadlines with ease and reports status updates effectively.
   * A strong social network presence is required.
   * Must demonstrate an established sense of creativity.
   * Exhibits good decision-making skills.
   * Resourceful and able to research problems and recommend solutions.
   * Ability to reprioritize projects frequently.
   
   EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
   
   * Minimum 1-2 years' experience as a stylist assistant
   * High School Diploma required.
   * Is knowledgeable in proper garment steaming
   * Experience in the fashion industry is a must
   * Experience working in e-commerce is preferred
   * Extreme multitasking skills
   * High ability to work efficiently and quickly without a lack of superior quality
   * Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
   * Exceptional attention to detail and quality control
   * Ability to organize, prioritize, and reorder workload in a dynamic environment
   
   WORK ENVIRONMENT:
   
   The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
   
   * Typical office environment with low level noise exposure.
   
   WHY US?
   
   * 401k
   * Comprehensive medical and dental benefits … vision is fully paid by us!
   * Employee Discount online and in-store
   * Discount on numerous attractions, travel and events
   * Employee Sample Sale
   * Relaxed work environment … wear what we sell in our stores
   * 40 hours paid sick time granted on day 1!
   * Fitness and wellness events virtually or at the office
   
   "Tillys will consider applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, Chapter XVIII, Article 9 (Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring (Ban the Box)."

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find stylist assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any stylist assistants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level stylist assistants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your stylist assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit stylist assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit stylist assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new stylist assistant

   Once you've decided on a perfect stylist assistant candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new stylist assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a stylist assistant?