Challenging the stigma associated with hair and beauty careers

Despite contributing a substantial €2.6bn to the Irish economy, the hair and beauty industry remains deeply undervalued and weighed down by outdated, damaging and inaccurate stereotypes, writes Lauren Murphy, a PhD student who is doing research in collaboration with Image Skillnet on the topic of ‘Occupational Identification, Stigma and Self-Esteem: Hair and Beauty Industry Perspectives’. 

Hairdressers and beauty therapists are often unfairly dismissed as individuals performing superficial, unskilled or ‘easy’ work – jobs that supposedly anyone can do. They are frequently stereotyped as lacking formal education and intellect, with limited career prospects. Hair and beauty careers are often seen as a fallback option. 

Nothing could be further from the truth, and it is time to challenge the stigma and give the industry the respect and credibility it rightfully deserves.

The Covid-19 pandemic hit the industry hard, forcing salons to close. Yet it may also have been a much-needed turning point, demonstrating just how essential these services are to people’s lives. The DIY hair disasters during lockdown – from patchy dye jobs to uneven home haircuts – quickly challenged the idea that it was an easy and unskilled occupation. It was a real eye-opener for many, highlighting the high level of skill it takes to be a hairdresser or beauty therapist. People were counting down the days until they could get back into the chairs of the real professionals.

The importance of the salon
A salon is more than just a space for personal grooming; it’s a social hub and a vital part of the community. It brings individuals together, especially those who are vulnerable or isolated in society. For some, a regular salon appointment may be their only social interaction, and these connections can make a real difference in their lives.

The services these professionals provide don’t just change how their clients looks, they go much deeper – transforming how they feel about themselves. While the economic contribution of the industry is significant, you can’t put a figure on the confidence and empowerment that hairdressers and beauty therapists give their clients. Few occupations have such a direct and positive impact on people’s self-esteem and self-image. Even fewer require both physical and emotional labour in the same way this industry does. 

In fact, the emotional labour involved is often overlooked and rarely acknowledged. Beyond their technical skills, these professionals provide a listening ear, emotional support and a safe space for their clients, all without formal training. So, this leads us to ask, why is this occupation still not given the respect it so clearly deserves?

The changing trends and innovations in this fast-paced industry require ongoing training and upskilling – the learning never ends. Yet, this dedication to continuous education is often disregarded by those outside the industry. Hair and beauty careers are not hobbies or side gigs, they deliver meaningful results on a personal, social and economic level.

Challenging the stigma
The question is, how do we challenge the stigma? Changing public opinion is no easy task, and it’s certainly not going to happen overnight. But there are practical steps we can take to move in the right direction.

1. Update training to include emotional skills
Let’s talk about education. Apprenticeships in other fields require a stint in a third-level institution, blending academic with practical learning. But in hairdressing and beauty therapy, it is purely vocational education. While it’s just as valuable, it doesn’t always receive the same level of respect. 

One way to challenge the stigma around the lack of formal education is to update the training system and collaborate with third-level bodies to include psychology modules. Why psychology? Because emotional labour is a big part of the job, even if unrecognised. Integrating psychology, a widely respected field, could help raise the profile of hair and beauty careers. This would also highlight the often-invisible emotional labour that professionals do daily, and show those outside the industry a fuller picture of what the job really entails. This change in perspective is an important step toward the sector as a whole getting the respect they deserve.

2. Boost visibility in schools and communities
Hair and beauty professions need to feature more at career talks or fairs. If they are not highlighted, the  younger generations are getting the message that these career paths aren’t valuable or worth considering. Without greater visibility and representation, the stigma around the occupation is likely to persist into the current and future generations. The way the industry is marketed needs a rethink, with a focus on more positive exposure. This could be achieved through the presence of industry bodies, local professionals and influential role models at school talks, education events and conferences – everyone sharing their real-life career success stories and offering work experience opportunities.

3. Celebrate female leadership and entrepreneurship
In a world where male-dominated industries often get more recognition and support, being female-dominated is one of the industry’s greatest strengths. Hair and beauty is one of the few sectors where female entrepreneurship truly thrives. In Ireland, brands such as Sculpted by Aimee SOSU Cosmetics and Luna by Lisa Jordan  are led by inspiring and talented businesswomen. But you don’t have to look at large-scale national businesses to find successful female entrepreneurs – they are running salons in almost every village and town across the country.

Developing mentorship programmes that spotlight salon owners as role models can support others on their journey to entrepreneurship. Combined with the use of industry bodies’ social media platforms to share their personal paths, this can help shift the narrative. This will not only foster a culture of women supporting women,it will also show that the industry is an important economic contributor, deserving of targeted Government support and incentives.

It’s often a two-in-one job – a stylist/therapist and business owner, who is juggling admin, marketing and HR, while being a listening ear and transforming how clients look and feel. What other job demands such a unique mix of skills? It is time to stop undermining the occupation by saying someone is ‘just’ a hairdresser or ‘just’ a therapist, and start respecting and recognising it for the skilled, empowering and transformative occupation that it truly is.

Lauren Murphy is a PhD student at the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, having graduated from there in 2024 with a bachelor of business studies. She is currently doing research in collaboration with Image Skillnet on the topic of ‘Occupational Identification, Stigma and Self-Esteem: Hair and Beauty Industry Perspectives’. Murphy has a Level 6 qualification in hairdressing and, when working in the sector, she felt she was subject to the stereotype/stigma of lacking intelligence, or the perception that her chosen career was not considered a ‘good’ job. Passionate about changing this, the aim of her research is to develop a framework to measure and address occupational stigma and low prestige in the Irish hair and beauty industry. This research also aims to design intervention strategies to enhance employee self-esteem, and promote a more positive and professional public image of the industry.