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Stylist vs hair stylist

The differences between stylists and hair stylists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a stylist and a hair stylist. Additionally, a hair stylist has an average salary of $38,221, which is higher than the $37,985 average annual salary of a stylist.

The top three skills for a stylist include good time management, POS and data entry. The most important skills for a hair stylist are cosmetology, clips, and kids.

Stylist vs hair stylist overview

StylistHair Stylist
Yearly salary$37,985$38,221
Hourly rate$18.26$18.38
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs49,29649,578
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 31%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

What does a stylist do?

A stylist is responsible for providing fashion advice, choosing the appropriate clothing for models, maintaining the fashion style, and supervising photoshoots. Stylists must always be updated with the latest fashion trends for recommendations. A stylist must have excellent communication skills to connect with various brand management and fashion stores for purchasing items or inquiring about clothing collections. In some cases, stylists are usually consulted by a team of the fashion brand to give inputs on the appropriate style, including color schemes and overall design.

What does a hair stylist do?

A Hair Stylist's role is to provide services such as haircuts, treatments, coloring, styling, and even maintenance. Most of the time, the clients choose which style or treatment they would prefer, which is why a Hair Stylist must have extensive knowledge and keep up the current trends in Hair Styling. Moreover, a Hair Stylist can also recommend styling and treatments that would suit the client, even sell Hair Care products. Aside from providing quality service, it is also essential for a Hair Stylist to build rapport with clients to ensure customer satisfaction and have a robust client base.

Stylist vs hair stylist salary

Stylists and hair stylists have different pay scales, as shown below.

StylistHair Stylist
Average salary$37,985$38,221
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $53,000Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityDenver, COScottsdale, AZ
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyColumbia International University-
Best paying industryHospitalityHealth Care

Differences between stylist and hair stylist education

There are a few differences between a stylist and a hair stylist in terms of educational background:

StylistHair Stylist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 31%
Most common majorCosmetologyCosmetology
Most common college--

Stylist vs hair stylist demographics

Here are the differences between stylists' and hair stylists' demographics:

StylistHair Stylist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 13.6% Female, 86.4%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between stylist and hair stylist duties and responsibilities

Stylist example responsibilities.

  • Manage salon, payroll, purchasing and inventory utilizing corporate policies.
  • Manage cleaning up activities after hair care appointments by ensuring appropriate cleanliness and sterilization of cutting and trimming equipment.
  • Perform general receptionist tasks such as answering phones, using POS system, handling money transactions, and scheduling appointments.
  • Create personal``Lookbooks"for clients through social media.
  • Assist in marketing and social media via Instagram, Facebook and USD club meetings.
  • Contract great clips for service to hire temps on a temporary basis to assist shifts salons need.
  • Show more

Hair stylist example responsibilities.

  • Manage beautiful hairstyles with the use of flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers, and other hair products.
  • Manage product inventory for cosmetology products, place product orders, maintain the inventory.
  • Commission stylist, assist other stylists as well as cleaning and greeting guests.
  • Work extremely quickly and efficiently as a hairstylist to reach sales and productivity goals while maintaining exceptional customer service
  • Bleach, dye, or tint, using applicator or brush.
  • Specialize in braids, sew-ins, glue-ins, dreads, wraps, twist, and curls.
  • Show more

Stylist vs hair stylist skills

Common stylist skills
  • Good Time Management, 14%
  • POS, 11%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Excellent Training, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 8%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
Common hair stylist skills
  • Cosmetology, 31%
  • Clips, 20%
  • Kids, 7%
  • Makeup, 6%
  • Retail Sales, 5%
  • Cleanliness, 4%

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