Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Provide beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May apply makeup, dress wigs, perform hair removal, and provide nail and skin care services.
AI Impact Summary
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists faces low AI displacement risk with a score of 21/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 10% of all analyzed occupations. Of 23 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
23 tasks analyzed
Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
Schedule client appointments.
Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers and assistants.
Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment.
Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons.
Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions.
Order, display, and maintain supplies.
Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style.
Develop new styles and techniques.
Apply water, setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair.
Recommend and explain the use of cosmetics, lotions, and creams to soften and lubricate skin and enhance and restore natural appearance.
Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax.
Clean, shape, and polish fingernails and toenails, using files and nail polish.
Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches.
Apply artificial fingernails.
Give facials to patrons, using special compounds, such as lotions and creams.
Attach wigs or hairpieces to model heads and dress wigs and hairpieces according to instructions, samples, sketches or photographs.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush. | 61.9Observed | 33.8% | 12% | |
| Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors. | 58.33Observed | 32.3% | 17% | |
| Schedule client appointments. | 39.52Observed | 65.0% | 2% | |
| Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided. | 28.85Observed | 60.7% | 2% | |
| Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 3% | |
| Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles. | 65.3Observed | 53.1% | 5% | |
| Train or supervise other hairstylists, hairdressers and assistants. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 2% | |
| Massage and treat scalp for hygienic and remedial purposes, using hands, fingers, or vibrating equipment. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 8% | |
| Operate cash registers to receive payments from patrons. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Administer therapeutic medication and advise patron to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 2% | |
| Order, display, and maintain supplies. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 2% | |
| Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 6% | |
| Develop new styles and techniques. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Apply water, setting, straightening or waving solutions to hair and use curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling irons to press and curl hair. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Recommend and explain the use of cosmetics, lotions, and creams to soften and lubricate skin and enhance and restore natural appearance. | 60.1Observed | 39.0% | 3% | |
| Shape eyebrows and remove facial hair, using depilatory cream, tweezers, electrolysis or wax. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Clean, shape, and polish fingernails and toenails, using files and nail polish. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 4% | |
| Shave, trim, and shape beards and moustaches. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Apply artificial fingernails. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% | |
| Give facials to patrons, using special compounds, such as lotions and creams. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Attach wigs or hairpieces to model heads and dress wigs and hairpieces according to instructions, samples, sketches or photographs. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 32.7%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$35,250
per year
Mean Wage
$43,460
per year
Employment
295K
workers
Wage Range
$24,580 - $70,220
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Information Ordering
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change