How to become a hairdresser in Australia (2025-2026 guide)

If scissors feel natural in your hand and you save hair inspo like it is a part-time job, welcome. This guide maps the cleanest route to qualify in Australia, build confidence on the floor, and grow inside Franck Provost (FP). Think real training days, product partnerships that matter, and a national network that opens doors now and later.

What Australia expects from a top stylist

• Creativity with restraint: on-trend, wearable looks that clients can live in.
• Technical depth: cutting foundations, colour science, finishing, corrective work.
• Consultation skills: read the brief, set maintenance, agree on a plan.
• Time management: control your column on a Saturday sprint.
• Service standards: consistent, calm, detail-obsessed.

At FP these are not buzzwords. They are coached through FP Academy days, international collections and in-salon mentoring with access to L’Oréal Professionnel and Kérastase.

The qualification path: certificate III + paid apprenticeship

In Australia, most stylists complete a Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416) via an apprenticeship that blends paid salon hours with formal study. Typical duration is about three years, with possible credit if you have prior experience. Your RTO delivers the units; your salon turns them into muscle memory.

Ready to explore roles and next steps right now?

• Apply to join the FP team
• Current job opportunities
• Become a franchisee with FP’s master-franchise support

Where to study, and why your salon choice matters

TAFE and reputable academies provide structure. Your first salon provides repetition, feedback and real-world pace. Inside FP you pair your RTO with structured education days, brand-backed techniques and a culture that makes high standards normal.

Want to see the culture behind the words?

• Our salon team environment in practice
• Hairdressing jobs hub (skills, duties, salary, FAQs)

Pathways that actually move you forward

Apprenticeship + RTO gives your qualification. FP Academy + in-salon coaching gives speed to competence. From there the ladder is clear: apprentice → stylist → senior → technician/educator or manager. If leadership is your thing, FP’s master-franchise model is the bridge to ownership with support on operations, marketing and training.

Build a portfolio that books clients

• Shoot clean before/after in natural light.
• Caption with the technique and maintenance plan.
• Mix trend work (lived-in blonde, glossy brunette, curtain fringe) with classics (precision bob).
• Post consistently and tag Franck Provost so our teams can spot you.

Network without the awkwardness

Show up for education nights and trade events. Comment thoughtfully on stylists you rate. If you are near our teams in Sydney or Melbourne, drop in and feel the pace of a busy FP floor.

Serve, rebook, grow

The quickest way to a full column is still elite service. Nail the consultation, agree maintenance, set home care, and rebook before your client leaves. FP’s service standards and menu make this part simple to repeat.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a hairdressing apprenticeship take in Australia?
About three years is typical, combining paid salon work with formal training toward Certificate III.

Do I have to study at TAFE?
Most stylists qualify through an RTO such as TAFE. The salon you train in matters just as much, because daily repetition and coaching build your hands.

What makes Franck Provost different for early careers?
Dedicated FP Academy days, access to L’Oréal Professionnel and Kérastase, international collections, a national network, and a clear pathway into leadership or ownership through the master-franchise.

Where do I apply?
Right here

Keep learning (and prove it)

Education does not stop at the certificate. Keep stacking skills with colour correction, razor work, curly cutting, editorial finishing, and business modules if leadership is on your radar.