Skills
Cosmetologist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in cosmetologists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do cosmetologists need?
Cosmetologists need technical skills such as haircutting, color theory and application, and chemical services, plus people skills like creativity and customer service. They also use tools such as Shears and razors and Clippers and trimmers.
Technical (hard) skills
- Haircutting
- Color theory and application
- Chemical services
- Styling
- Sanitation
- Client consultation
People (soft) skills
- Creativity
- Customer service
- Communication
- Business sense
Tools, equipment and technology
- Shears and razors
- Clippers and trimmers
- Blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons
- Color bowls and brushes
- Disinfectants
- Booking apps
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how cosmetologists put their skills to work:
- How to conduct a client consultation
- How to apply all-over hair color
- How to disinfect tools between clients
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Haircutting” and “Color theory and application.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “creativity,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as State cosmetology license near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our cosmetologist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Cosmetologist 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.