Hair styling: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering hair styling

Clients book hair styling for an event, a daily look or a special day. Show your work on a range of hair types, explain your process, and quote the timing so the client knows what to expect.

What customers ask

  • Can you style my hair type and length?
  • How long will the style take, and how long will it hold?
  • Do you wash the hair, and is that included?
  • Can you come to my home or my hotel?
  • What products do you use, and are they safe for my hair?
  • Can you show me how to keep the style at home?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the event date and time, the hair length and texture, and a photo of the style they want.
  • Show work on several hair types and lengths, with the client's permission, so buyers can see your range.
  • Describe how you protect the hair from heat and how you finish the style, in words the client can follow.
  • Quote the wash, the style and any product or travel charge separately so there are no surprises.
  • Send a short plan with the appointment time, the finish time and any touch-up plan.
  • Give the client a short take-home note with the products used and simple care steps.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of finished styles on several hair types, lengths and textures, shown with consent
  • A list of your styling services, such as blowouts, curls, updos or event styles
  • The areas you travel to and whether you work in salons, homes or venues
  • The products and heat tools you use, and your approach to protecting the hair
  • Your cosmetology license details as they apply in your state

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a take-home product guide that matches the style and the client's hair type
  • Suggest a maintenance plan, such as a refresh or a wash-and-style visit
  • Offer to schedule a trial before a big event for a client who wants more certainty

Licenses and permits

Check your state's cosmetology or licensing board for the license that covers paid hair styling where you work, since most states require one. Keep your license details current on your profile.

Questions

Do I need a cosmetology license to style hair for events?

In most states, paid hair styling requires a cosmetology license. Check your state board, and confirm whether mobile or event styling has any extra rules where you work.

How do I protect hair from heat damage during a style?

Use a heat protectant, check the heat setting before you start, and avoid repeated passes on the same section. Tell the client what you used and what they should avoid afterward.

Should I offer a trial for event styling?

A trial is useful for big events and bridal styles. Set the trial fee and terms in writing, and tell the client how the trial fits into the final booking.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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