Hairstylist

Washing, cutting, blow-drying, colouring, straightening and styling hair. Talking to clients about what suits their face and hair type. Keeping tools clean and the work area hygienic. Selling hair products. Bridal and party hair, and eventually managing a salon or running your own.

A day in the work
You reach the salon before the first client and clean your station and sterilise your scissors and combs. Through the day you wash hair, talk with clients about what they want, and cut, colour or style. Weekends, festivals and wedding season are the busiest, so you may stand for hours with few breaks. In quieter hours you restock products, note down client details and practise new cuts on a mannequin.

1. Step 1 · Class 8–10Finish Class 10. The ITI trade needs a Class 10 pass and a minimum age of 14. Some schools offer a Beauty & Wellness vocational subject, which counts towards the junior-level skill-council qualification. Ask your school if it has one.
2. Step 2 · After Class 10 · 1 yearJoin the 1-year Cosmetology trade at a government ITI or NSTI. It covers hair cutting, styling, colouring, straightening, skin care, make-up and salon hygiene. At NSTI (Women) Patna, the session starts on 1 August. You need 60% sessional marks and 80% attendance to sit the final exam. Passing earns the National Trade Certificate from DGT.
3. Step 2 (alternative) · About 4–6 monthsTake a Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC) aligned course. Hair Dresser & Stylist is NSQF Level 4 with 510 notional hours. Junior Hair Dresser & Stylist is Level 3 with 420 hours. Check that the centre teaches the official B&WSSC qualification.
4. Step 3 · During or after trainingDo on-the-job training. The ITI course includes 150 hours of OJT at a nearby business, or a group project if none is available. You can also join an apprenticeship, which leads to a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC).
5. Step 4 · First 1–3 yearsStart as a salon assistant or junior stylist. You learn speed, client handling and new techniques from senior stylists. Most real skill is built here, on the salon floor. (reported — check with the official body)
6. Step 5 · Growing upMove to Senior Hair Dresser & Stylist (NSQF Level 5, 660 notional hours in the B&WSSC list). Or specialise in colour, bridal hair, or film and fashion work. Some stylists later train to become ITI instructors through the Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS).
7. Optional · Own businessOpen your own salon or home studio once you have a steady client base and enough savings. You will also be managing bills, hygiene, stock and staff. (reported — check with the official body)

• Government ITI route1-year Cosmetology trade after Class 10 at an ITI or NSTI. It gives an NTC, 150 hours of on-the-job training, and a path to apprenticeship or CITS. For visually impaired candidates there is a separate Hair & Skin Care trade, also 1 year after Class 10.
• Skill-council routeB&WSSC qualifications run in steps: Junior Hair Dresser & Stylist (Level 3), Hair Dresser & Stylist (Level 4), then Senior (Level 5). You can take one step at a time while working.
• Learn on the jobStart as a helper in a salon and learn by watching and practising. Many people do this. Adding a recognised certificate later helps you prove your skills when you change jobs or start your own place.Reported — confirm on the official site.

Fees from: DGT Cosmetology (CTS) curriculum · Government of Assam, DECT ITI admission notification (2025-26/27), fee section · Delhi DTTE ITI online admission 2026 registration guidelines and fee structure PDF · DGT AITT 2023 detailed guidelines (CBT fee ₹213) · Haryana SDIT SCVT/NCVT overview (certificate fees). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Beginners in salons usually earn little while they learn, and pay rises with skill, speed and a loyal set of clients. Big-city and chain salons tend to pay more than small-town parlours. Self-employed stylists can earn more, but their income goes up and down with how many clients they get.

The ITI Cosmetology trade lists seats for candidates with several disabilities, including locomotor, hearing and low-vision conditions. A separate Hair & Skin Care trade is meant for visually impaired candidates. National Skill Training Institutes for Women, such as those at Patna and Tura, offer Cosmetology seats.

• Class 7–9Practise neat plaits and sectioning on a long-haired doll or a willing family member. Wash your hands and clean combs and clips every time, as a salon would.
• Class 10–12Read the official Cosmetology trade syllabus from DGT. Then visit a nearby government ITI, or a salon with your parents, and ask what a first-year trainee actually does.Open link ↗
• College or afterLook through the free courses on the Skill India Digital Hub and check which beauty and hair courses follow the B&WSSC qualifications. Then spend a few days observing in a salon before you commit.Open link ↗

• The ITI trade is now mainly called Cosmetology. It covers hair, skin, nails and make-up, not only hair. Trade names and seats differ by state, so check your state ITI admission portal.
• Hairdressing work is on your feet for many hours, and colouring and straightening involve chemicals. Good hygiene and protective habits matter from day one.
• Skill-council qualifications are in levels: Junior Hair Dresser & Stylist (NSQF 3), Hair Dresser & Stylist (NSQF 4), Senior (NSQF 5). Pick a course that follows these official qualifications.
• This work is open to everyone. Boys and girls both become hairstylists, and many ITIs, including NSTIs for women, run the trade.