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.
Stylist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real stylist resumes:
- 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.
- Utilize specialized tools including clippers, scissors, combs, trimmers, and clips to maximize results.
- Style clients base on their style profile, specific requests and social media profiles such as Pinterest.
- Organize events with designers and VIP clients as well as other store managers to increase product sales.
- Provide real-time event and product updates for clients and users through Instagram, email, and other platforms.
- Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
- Schedule appointments and proficiently operate the computerized POS system.
- Provide makeup application and other cosmetic services as requested.
- Provide personal styling, wardrobe enhancement, and closet organization.
- Provide performers with makeup removal assistance after performances have been complete.
Stylist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Stylists are proficient in Good Time Management, POS, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Customer-service skills, and Listening skills.
We break down the percentage of Stylists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Good Time Management, 14%
Use good time management skills, good judgment, and the ability to multi-task.
- POS, 11%
Utilized POS computer technology system for sales, Licensed Cosmetologist.
- Data Entry, 8%
Handled all aspects of administrative matters including filing documents, working with confidential information, and performing data entry functions.
- Excellent Training, 8%
Utilized excellent training, and cosmetology skills to help managers and also new stylist in the salon.
- Safety Standards, 8%
Provide Hair Care Services to the Public-Clean salon to ensure cleanliness and safety standards-Answer phones-Schedule appointments-Run Cash Register
- Product Knowledge, 6%
Attended all product knowledge meetings to increase awareness and build client business through visual merchandising and fashion forecasting
Most stylists use their skills in "good time management," "pos," and "data entry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential stylist responsibilities here:
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a stylist to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists must keep up with the latest trends and be ready to try new hairstyles for their clients." Additionally, a stylist resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "performed a variety of tasks related to daily operations including scheduling appointments, managing inventory and prepared daily bank deposits. "
Customer-service skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling stylist duties is customer-service skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "workers must be friendly, pleasant, and able to interact with clients to build and retain clientele." According to a stylist resume, here's how stylists can utilize customer-service skills in their job responsibilities: "performed customer service by answering phones and scheduling appointments. "
Listening skills. This is an important skill for stylists to perform their duties. For an example of how stylist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists must be attentive when clients describe what they want to ensure satisfaction with the result." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a stylist: "communicated with clients to determine hair care needs. ".
Physical stamina. stylist responsibilities often require "physical stamina." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists must be able to stand for long periods." This resume example shows what stylists do with physical stamina on a typical day: "analyzed patron's hair and other physical features and read makeup instructions to determine and recommend beauty treatment. "
Tidiness. Another crucial skill for a stylist to carry out their responsibilities is "tidiness." A big part of what stylists relies on this skill, since "workers must keep their work area clean and sanitary for the health and safety of their clients." How this skill relates to stylist duties can be seen in an example from a stylist resume snippet: "cut, style, shampoo, and color clients hair salon cleanup and tidiness assist in paying bills"
Time-management skills. While "time-management skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to stylist responsibilities. Much of what a stylist does relies on this skill, seeing as "barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists need to manage their time efficiently when scheduling appointments and providing services." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of stylists: "key responsibility to assist stylist on all commercials and photo shoots critical time management skills as deadlines were based on daily shoots"
The three companies that hire the most stylists are:
- maurices772 stylists jobs
- Great Clips764 stylists jobs
- Windsor Fashions509 stylists jobs
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Compare different stylists
Stylist vs. Braider
Nail technicians are beauty specialists that provide grooming services to a client's fingernails and toenails. They are trained proficiently in filling, cleaning, and grooming as well as various nail treatments. They can either work in salons, nail studios, spas, or can be self-employed. Their duties include providing high-quality manicures and pedicures, applying artificial nails, and recommending different nail art and designs to the client. Also, they advise clients on proper nail care and provide quality hand and foot massages. Additionally, they ensure that the nail instruments and equipment are sanitized, and work stations are neat and orderly.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between stylists and braider. For instance, stylist responsibilities require skills such as "good time management," "pos," "good judgment," and "data entry." Whereas a braider is skilled in "braiders," "ran," "appointment calendar," and "assembly line." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that braiders earn slightly differ from stylists. In particular, braiders are 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a stylist. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Stylist vs. Salon coordinator
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that stylist responsibilities requires skills like "good time management," "good judgment," "data entry," and "excellent training." But a salon coordinator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "booking," "appointment scheduling," "payroll," and "spa services."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Salon coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than stylists. In fact, they're 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for stylists in the next 3-5 years?
Charley Sain
Cosmetology Instructor, Program Coordinator for Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Manicuring, Cleveland Community College
Stylist vs. Nail technician
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, stylists are more likely to have skills like "good time management," "pos," "good judgment," and "data entry." But a nail technician is more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "tip," "spa services," and "skin care."
Nail technicians earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $32,807. Stylists earn the highest pay from the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $35,871.Most nail technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to stylists. For example, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Stylist vs. Hair designer
Types of stylist
Updated January 8, 2025
