Job numbers and pay levels are rising in salons

Most trainers and course providers are "looking forward to the day that hairdressing will be regularised and structured," says Maura Clarke, of Crumlin College, Dublin, one of the largest PLC colleges in the country with an intake of up to 200 hairdressing trainees each year. She believes standardisation of training schemes and courses would improve the system and introduce an equal standard of training to all 26 counties.

Demand from salons for young hairdressers continues to rise and rates of pay are rising also, says Clarke. However, very few young people are attracted to this career. FAS, which runs training courses around the country, is no longer able to fill all of its courses.

A junior student gets between £70 to £80 a week, "a big increase on three or four years ago," says Clarke. A stylist can take home up to £300 or £350 a week.

It's important that hairdressing applicants would have a strong back. "You're standing eight hours a day bending and stooping over clients," she explains. They shouldn't have allergies.

On the whole applicants are interviewed on a one-to-one basis. Appearance, an interest in fashion and hair, communication skills and a business sense are very important.

As well as FAS courses, private apprenticeship courses and private courses, says Clarke, there are about 13 PLC colleges in the country which have hairdressing courses.

A PLC hairdressing course leads to an NCVA level 2 qualification. At Crumlin College, hairdressing is combined with cosmetic studies and students spend one day a week on work experience.

Most students sit the Department's Junior Trade Certificate exams as well as getting NCVA qualification. They also sit the ITEC cosmetic studies and manicuring qualification. After graduation, most students return to the college at night for the Senior Trade Certificates the following year. They can specialise in subsequent years. In most PLC colleges, there is a guidance counsellor to help students in career choices.

Graduates may opt for hairdressing, cosmetics or possibly receptionist-type jobs in a salon. If they go into hairdressing, they usually find work as a senior first-year apprentice in a high-profile hairdressing salon. Jakki Walpole, personnel co-ordinator with Peter Marks, which takes on "at least 150 new first years every year", says the career is "very competitive and businessbased. We feel it's extremely important to put a huge emphasis on business training."

The company's three-year course prepares students for "the working world you are thrown into." Hairdressers must be "able to compete on the business level," she says.

"They must be taught how to build a clientele or following. If you have no following or clientele at the end of the day, you have no profession." In the long term, it can be a very profitable career, says Walpole, but it's important to be properly trained. At the FAS course in Jervis Street, up to 54 applicants are expected to be taken on this year. They will cover combing and brushing, shampooing, blow drying, cutting and basic skills, colour application, perming, dressing out, reception, telephone, communication and job seeking skills.

Crumlin College is holding an open day tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.