Cosmetologist job description: duties, responsibilities, skills and a template

A cosmetologist's job description has to cover more ground than most. In one working day the same person may consult on a colour, cut and style, give a facial, shape a set of nails and sell the products to maintain all of it, while keeping every tool clean and every appointment on time.

This article gives a cosmetologist job description you can adapt: what the role is and what it is called elsewhere, seven duties, the skills employers look for, training and licensing in the United States and the UK, a template and wording for a CV.

Cosmetologists are often new to work and learn on the job, and the first weeks decide whether they stay. See how New Dynamics onboarding brings tasks, early goals and manager conversations into a clear path for a new starter.

What is a cosmetologist?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a cosmetologist, a term it marks as mainly US, as “a trained person whose job is to improve the appearance of a customer's face, hair, or skin using make-up and beauty treatments”, and gives beautician as a synonym. One of its examples refers to a “licensed Virginia cosmetologist”, which points to the American feature of the role: it is licensed by the state.

In the UK the work is split between two occupations that the National Careers Service profiles separately.

• Hairdresser. Its hairdresser profile says: “Hairdressers and barbers cut, shave, colour and style customers' hair.”
• Beauty therapist. Its beauty therapist profile, which lists beautician as an alternative title, says: “Beauty therapists provide face and body treatments to help clients look and feel better.”

A US cosmetology licence typically covers hair, skin and nails together. A UK salon hiring for the same breadth would advertise for a hair and beauty professional, or two people. Write the job description for the services you actually offer.

Cosmetologist duties: seven responsibilities

1. Consult and advise. Talk to clients about what they want, assess hair, skin or nails, recommend services and products and explain what a treatment involves. The NCS lists talking to customers and discussing styling ideas, and explaining treatments.
2. Cut, colour and style hair. Wash, cut and style; apply colours, tints, braids and extensions; trim and shape beards; finish with products, as the hairdresser profile lists.
3. Give skin and facial treatments. Cleanse, massage and tone the skin in a facial; shape eyebrows and colour eyelashes; remove unwanted hair; carry out non-surgical skin treatments and spray tanning, as the beauty therapist profile lists, where trained and licensed.
4. Do nails. Manicures, pedicures, extensions and nail art.
5. Apply make-up. Makeovers and advice on make-up, for everyday wear or occasions.
6. Keep the station, tools and salon hygienic and safe. Clean and sterilise tools, follow infection control, handle chemicals safely, patch-test before colour and protect your own skin.
7. Sell, book and keep records. Recommend and sell retail products, take payments, make appointments, order stock and keep client records, including consultation notes and patch-test dates. The NCS lists the ability to sell products and services among the skills for both roles.

Skills and qualities employers look for

The NCS lists the skills for both UK roles. For beauty therapists: customer service, “sensitivity and understanding towards your clients' needs”, the ability to work well with your hands, excellent verbal communication, thoroughness and attention to detail, teamwork, active listening and the ability to sell. For hairdressers it adds the ability to work on your own, flexibility and openness to change, and “the ability to learn through your work”.

For an advert, six things.

• Technical skill, shown by qualifications, a licence where required and a portfolio.
• Consultation, the ability to listen, assess and advise honestly, including when the answer is no.
• Attention to detail, because the client sees the result in the mirror.
• Stamina, standing for most of the day with hands in constant use.
• Hygiene and safety habits that do not slip when the salon is busy.
• Commercial sense, rebooking, retail and keeping a column full.

Training and licensing

United States. Cosmetologists are licensed by the state in which they work, usually after completing an approved training programme of a set number of hours and passing written and practical examinations. The number of hours, the scope of the licence and the renewal rules differ between states, so a job description should name the licence required and any specialist licences, such as for aesthetics or nail technology. Check the relevant state board for the current requirements.

England. The NCS says you can become a beauty therapist through a college course, an apprenticeship or work as a beauty therapy assistant while studying. It lists the beauty therapist level 2 and advanced beauty therapist level 3 apprenticeships, which typically take up to two years; Skills England's apprenticeship listing shows the level 2 beauty therapist standard, summarised as “Completing beauty treatments as a key part of a beauty business.” Hairdressing follows a similar pattern of college courses and apprenticeships. There is no state licence, but the NCS suggests joining a professional register, and some treatments require specific training and insurance.

Progression. The NCS says beauty therapists can progress to assistant manager, salon manager or spa sales and marketing roles, work self-employed or move into fashion, theatre or media make-up; hairdressers can become senior stylists or salon managers, open a salon, train and assess students, rent a chair or work in theatre, film and television.

Requirements differ in other countries and between states. Check the rules where you work.

Cosmetologist job description template

Adapt the template to your salon. Keep every line true.

Job title: Cosmetologist [UK: Hair and beauty therapist]

Reports to: Salon manager

Hours: [Full-time or part-time], including [evenings and Saturdays] on a rota

Purpose of the role: To give clients hair, skin, nail and make-up services of a consistently high standard, so that they leave looking and feeling better and come back.

Main duties:

• Consult with clients, assess needs and recommend services and products
• Cut, colour and style hair, including [named services]
• Give facials, waxing, brow and lash treatments and [other treatments offered]
• Provide manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements
• Apply make-up for everyday and occasion clients
• Maintain hygiene, sterilisation, patch-testing and safe handling of chemicals
• Rebook clients, sell retail products and keep accurate client records

Requirements:

• [US: Current state cosmetology licence] [UK: Level 2 or 3 in beauty therapy and/or hairdressing]
• Portfolio of work and [n] years' salon experience, or a strong trainee
• Excellent consultation and customer service skills
• Reliable, tidy and calm when the salon is full

We provide: [Pay model: hourly, salary or commission, with the split stated], product training, [uniform], and a route to senior stylist or therapist.

Say how pay works. Salons use hourly pay, commission, chair rental and combinations, and candidates need to know which. Our job description template explains the overall structure.

How to describe cosmetology work on a CV

Write what you did and what it produced. The lines below are our own examples.

• “Licensed cosmetologist with four years in a six-chair salon, specialising in colour and balayage.”
• “Built a client column to 85 percent rebooking within a year.”
• “Trained in advanced facials and brow lamination; carried out patch tests and kept full client records.”
• “Retail sales consistently above salon target through consultation-led recommendations.”
• “Mentored two apprentices through their level 2 qualification.”

Common mistakes in cosmetology job adverts

Every service, whether or not you offer it. If the salon does not do nails, do not list them.

Silence on pay model. Commission-only, hourly plus commission and chair rental are different jobs.

No mention of hours. Evenings and Saturdays are the trade; say which ones.

Licence or qualification not stated. In the US, name the licence. In the UK, name the level and the treatments it must cover.

No training promise. Products, techniques and safety change. Say what you provide.

Frequently asked questions

What does a cosmetologist do?

A cosmetologist improves the appearance of a client's hair, skin, nails and face. The work includes consulting and advising, cutting, colouring and styling hair, facials and skin treatments, manicures and pedicures, make-up, keeping tools and the salon hygienic, and selling products, booking appointments and keeping client records.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a cosmetologist?

Seven core duties: consult and advise; cut, colour and style hair; give skin and facial treatments; do nails; apply make-up; keep the station, tools and salon hygienic and safe; and sell, book and keep records. The mix depends on the services the salon offers and the licence or qualifications the cosmetologist holds.

What is the difference between a cosmetologist and a beauty therapist?

Cosmetologist is mainly a US term for a state-licensed professional whose licence usually covers hair, skin and nails. In the UK the work is split: hairdressers cut, colour and style hair, and beauty therapists provide face and body treatments. Beautician is a synonym for both cosmetologist and beauty therapist.

What qualifications does a cosmetologist need?

In the United States, a state cosmetology licence, gained after approved training hours and examinations that vary by state. In England, a level 2 or 3 qualification or apprenticeship in beauty therapy or hairdressing, with no state licence but professional registers and training requirements for some treatments.

What skills does a cosmetologist need?

Technical skill in the services offered, consultation and listening, customer service, attention to detail, manual dexterity, stamina, strict hygiene and safety habits and the ability to sell products and rebook clients.

How is a cosmetologist paid?

Salons use hourly pay, salary, commission on services and retail, chair or room rental for self-employed professionals, or a combination. A job advert should say which model applies and how any commission is calculated.

Your next step

1. List the services your salon offers and cut the template to match.
2. Name the licence or qualification level required, and the treatments it must cover.
3. State the pay model and the rota.
4. Plan the first month: products, systems, safety procedures and a mentor.

For that first month, read and download our employee onboarding guide. The guide is free to read, and the PDF uses our short download form.

Want onboarding tasks, early goals and check-ins for every new stylist and therapist in one place? Book a New Dynamics demo and bring your current induction. You can also email contact@new-dynamics.com.