Skills
Barber Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in barbers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do barbers need?
Barbers need technical skills such as clipper cutting and fades, shear work, and straight razor shaving, plus people skills like conversation and precision. They also use tools such as Clippers and trimmers and Shears.
Technical (hard) skills
- Clipper cutting and fades
- Shear work
- Straight razor shaving
- Beard design
- Sanitation
- Client consultation
People (soft) skills
- Conversation
- Precision
- Reliability
- Business sense
Tools, equipment and technology
- Clippers and trimmers
- Shears
- Straight razors
- Combs and brushes
- Hot towels and lather machines
- Disinfectants
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how barbers put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Clipper cutting and fades” and “Shear work.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “conversation,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as State barber license near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our barber glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Barber training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.