Cutting and styling hair is a creative outlet, says Earleen Leier, a hairstylist at Tanglez Hair Salon in Truro. She said salon owners and a small number of elite hairstylists can make big money, but most people who stay in the business for a long time do so for the artistic challenge and social contact. (CATHY VON KINTZEL / Truro Bureau)

WHEN EARLEEN Leier was a teenager, she loved hanging out at her aunt's hair salon, watching her transform people's moods by transforming their hair.

"They'd come in all stressed and unhappy and leave in much better cheer," she recalled recently while waiting for a customer at Tanglez Hair Salon in Truro. "I thought she had a glamorous life."

After helping out around her aunt.s shop, she decided she wanted that life for herself. Thirty-eight years later, with countless hours spent in more than a dozens salons, she's still happy with the decision.

"It's kind of like art for me. It's sculpting, but with hair. I still like shaping hair and coming up with new designs."

She said salon owners and a few top-name designers can make big money in the field, but a good stylist who's able to develop a loyal clientele won't go hungry.

"You can make a good living, but for most hairstylists I know it's not about the money. It's about the creativity and enjoying the interaction with customers and co-workers."

With the large number of shops around and a demand that doesn't seem to be affected by downturns in the economy, she said hairdressing offers a flexibility to move around that doesn't exist in many occupations.

But the key for anyone looking at the profession is personality.

"Success is about 85 per cent personality. We can teach skills; we can't teach personality."

To learn more about the professions of hairstyling and barbering, read on.

NATURE OF THE WORK
Hairstylists cut and style hair and perform related services. They suggest hairstyles that suit a client's physical features or base a style on a client's wishes. They shampoo and rinse hair; apply bleach, tint, dye or rinses to colour hair; and analyze hair and scalp conditions. Many offer advice on beauty treatments.

SKILLS
You must have good manual dexterity, imagination and creativity. Good communication, organizational and interpersonal skills are definite assets. You should be tactful, patient and able to follow directions closely. You must be in good health. Business skills are useful, as 45 per cent of hairstylists and barbers in Nova Scotia are self-employed.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
The minimum requirement for this work is a junior certificate, which is issued after you pass an exam given by the Cosmetology Association of Nova Scotia. Most hairdressers have either a general or a master's licence; there are no such requirements for barbers. To qualify for a junior certificate, you must complete 1,250 hours of training under the direct supervision of a master hairdressing instructor and pass a theoretical and a practical exam. An additional 960 hours of work experience will qualify you for a general licence. A master's licence is available to those who have held a general licence for at least two years.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Earnings are often supplemented by tips or gratuities, so a person.s income will depend upon his or her ability to attract and retain a group of clients. The work can be tiring and physically demanding. Hairdressers and estheticians must be on their feet for long periods of time. This work is often carried out during evenings and weekends, when salons are busiest.

Red Seal trade certification allowing for workers to move from province to province is available to qualified hairstylists.

WORK PROSPECTS
This is a large occupational group in Nova Scotia. Because of an increasingly fashion-conscious public, employment prospects are best for hairstylists. Many hairstylists and barbers are self-employed, and it is common for them to rent a chair in a salon or shop.

LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION