40 Beautiful Facts about Hairdressers

By James Israelsen, Associate Writer

Published November 26, 2022Updated September 30, 2024

In addition to cutting hair, cosmetology schools teach students about skin, fingernails and toenails, and the anatomy and bone structures of the head._[9]
Professional hairstylists are taught to hold their shears with their thumb and ring finger in the holes, instead of the thumb and middle finger, as most people do._[9]
Teachers at cosmetology schools generally must have a high school diploma, experience working in a salon, participation in a teaching training program, and a state cosmetology license from any of the 50 U.S. states._[3]
Cosmetology is a term that is derived from the Greek word for cosmetics but encompasses hairstyling and nail technology as well._[8]
Archaeologists have found that haircutting and styling have both been practiced by human beings since the Ice Age._[8]
Early homo sapiens used sharpened flints, bones, or oyster shells to cut hair._[8]
Early humans used animal sinews and hide strips to tie back or adorn their hair._[8]
Humans have been dying their hair with pigments made from natural substances—such as berries, insects, and herbs—since prehistoric times._[8]
Many modern hair dyes are still made with the natural colorants that were used by ancient homo sapiens to change their hair color._[8]
Different states in America have different definitions of what it is to practice cosmetology as a hairdresser._[8]

Shave and a haircut: two bits

The creation of unions for barbers in the 1920s resulted in the establishment of standardized barbering practices across the United States._[8]
Hairdressers in many historical African civilizations gave people different haircuts and styles based on the person's age, marital status, power, and rank._[8]
Ancient Egyptians used henna over 4,000 years ago to dye hair red._[8]
The ancient Celtic people developed ways of treating men's hair so that it would appear even more blond than it naturally was._[8]
The Danish, Anglo, and Norman men of the Iron Age regularly had their hair dressed in elaborate styles before going into battle._[8]
Ancient Roman women had their hair dyed in accordance with their class: red hair meant one was a noblewoman, blonde was the color of the middle class, and poor women colored their hair black._[8]
Women of the Renaissance got their hairlines shaved to create a larger forehead, a look believed to make women appear more intelligent._[8]
In the early 1900s, Madam Walker, the daughter of former slaves, started the Madam C. J. Walker Hair Culturists Union of America, which was responsible for holding one of the first national conventions for businesswomen in the United States._[8]
Modern hairdressers often specialize in just one of three categories: hair coloring, hair texturing, or haircutting._[8]
Hairdresser Vidal Sassoon accrued international fame in the 1960s when he introduced geometric haircuts for women._[8]
Within the first 3 months of hair salons reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, only 55% of Americans went to a hairdresser._[10]
Most state-approved barber and cosmetology schools require a minimum of nine months of training to become a hairdresser._[4]

This is where the magic happens

Hair salons in the early 1900s used the Nessler machine, a dangerous and uncomfortable method for supplying current to metal rods, to perm women's hair._[8]
Both the first electric curling iron and electric barber clippers were invented by the same man, Marcel Grateau, in the early 1900s._[8]
The art of hair weaving with aluminum foils was introduced by French hairdressers in the 1970s._[8]
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 59,000 California residents signed a petition asking that hair salons be allowed to re-open. Similar petitions were circulated in Oregon and Massachusetts._[7]
With his own line of salons and inventive styiles, English hairstylist Trevor Sorbie is a pioneer of modern hairdressing._[8]
Hairdressers in Boulder, Colorado, make more than their counterparts in every other city in the nation._[4]
On average, hairdressers earn less than estheticians and skincare specialists but more than nail technicians._[4]
The prestigious North American Hairstyling Awards offers North American hairdressers awards in 14 different categories every year._[8]

Tips are appreciated

The average hairdresser makes around $26,000 a year._[4]
While growing up, Beyonce used to sweep floors and sing songs at her mother's hair salon in order to earn spending money._[5]
Due to the nature of hairdressing, most employees in the hair industry in the United States were either furloughed or laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic._[7]
Hairdressers known as curly-hair specialists have been specifically trained to help maintain hair that curls naturally._[8]
It wasn't until much gentler hair dyes were invented in the 1990s that it became possible for almost any hair type from any ethnic group to be dyed blond, brunette, or red._[8]
Hairdressers in America rate their job satisfaction as being high when it comes to the flexible hours, but they are less satisfied with the amount of stress their profession entails._[4]
Mariah Carey completed around 500 hours of beauty school training before becoming a world-famous singer._[1]
Actor Danny DeVito worked for two years at his sister's beauty salon and planned to go to cosmetology school, but he ended up in acting classes instead._[6]
The net worth of the most expensive hairdressers to the stars in Hollywood, CA, ranges from $1 million to $2.7 million._[2]
Prestigious cosmetology schools tend to hire teachers who have an extended professional and social network, in order to ensure they are aware of current trends._[3]