How to Choose the Right Training Courses as a Stylist

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, or a student looking to go into hairdressing, education is vital as there are always new trends emerging. In an ever-evolving industry, you’ll never be done with learning and you’ll continuously grow your skillset, learning on the job and as you develop confidence. But a great way to set yourself up for success is to choose the right training course for you.

At Coolblades, we pride ourselves on our knowledge and work closely with colleges and training schools to ensure students and course-attendees have access to the best tools to complete their education, which is why we’re confident we can help guide you to choose the best course for you.

Why Ongoing Education in the Hair Industry Matters

The hair industry evolves constantly, what with new technology, new styles and new trends always emerging. That means the industry is not a one-and-done learning, you should constantly be evolving your skillset in order to stay prominent in the industry and to offer the best service to your clients.

When you expand your knowledge, you not only expand the horizons of what services you can offer, but you increase your confidence, build more trust with your clients and have a better earning potential.

Identify Your Career Goals

Whether you’re a student or a professional looking to broaden your knowledge, you should set your career goals before looking for courses on offer. Think: “what do I want to be known for?”

The answer could be cutting, colouring, extensions, up-styles, etc. Or you could want to offer the whole lot! Once you’ve narrowed down what it is you want to specialise in, you can begin finding a course that offers these teachings.

Research Course Types

There are many different course types available and, as with everything, some will be better than others, but it’s important to find something that works for you. If you’re a student looking for higher education there are plenty of in-person colleges who specialise in hair and barbering education. (At Cool Blades, we partner with several to deliver high quality college kits, including the London School of Barbering).

For those already qualified, you might see the benefits of an online course that you can work around your existing clients.

Doing research is incredibly important and you want to make sure you know the difference between an accredited and non-accredited course, as well as those that are just refresher workshops and those that come with full certifications.

When doing your research, you should also check the educator’s credibility. Be sure to look for proven industry experience, reviews and results and check out previous course attendees to see what they thought of the course.

Ask the Right Questions

There are some things you may need to establish, particularly, if it’s an in-person course, like: “Will I get a certificate?” “Do I need to bring my own tools?” and “Is this for beginners or advanced stylists?”

For students attending a hair or barbering college, it is most likely that you will need to bring your own tools which is where we come in…

Build a Learning Toolkit

We have plenty of pre-built college kits online and some of them have been designed specifically for certain courses, ensuring you have everything you need to complete your hairdressing education.

If you prefer to build your own toolkit, then make sure you check in with the educator to get a full list of what you’ll need. For most courses, the basics will be: scissors, combs, brushes, and training heads. But you may also need electricals like clippers and hairdryers, or colouring tools if your course covers this.

The right course can change the trajectory of your whole career path and equip you with the skills and confidence to succeed in this fast-paced industry. At Coolblades, we wholeheartedly support hairdresser and barber education and whether you’re attending or run a course, we have the tools available for success.

If you enjoyed this guide, why not visit the CoolBlades blog for more content tailored to salon and beauty professionals in 2025?