Alabama Hair Schools and Requirements
Browse our directory of hair design schools in Alabama, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair design licensing requirements and job outlook.
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You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
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Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
How to Become a Hair Designer in Alabama
- 1,000 - 1,500 education hours or 2,000 - 3,000 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
- The average salary for cosmetologists in Alabama is $36,140.
- There is a predicted 8% job increase between 2016–2026 for cosmetologists. This is lower than the expected national growth of 9%.
To become a hairstylist in Alabama, you must have a full cosmetology or barber license. Cosmetology and barbering differ, so decide what you want your career to look like before enrolling in any program.
If you're unsure which route to take to become an Alabama hair professional, read on to learn about your license options and how much you could earn as a hairdresser in the state.
What License Should I Get to Become a Hairstylist in Alabama?
Required to earn a hair design license
You need to get an Alabama cosmetology or barber license to become a hairdresser in the state. Which you choose hinges on how long you want to study and what you want to do upon getting your license.
| Cosmetologist | Barber |
| 1,500 class hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours to obtain licensure | 1,000 class hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours to obtain licensure |
| Can cut hair | Can cut hair |
| Can use chemicals on hair | Can use chemicals on hair |
| Can provide braids and weaves | Cannot provide braids and weaves |
| Cannot shave or trim beards | Can shave or trim beards |
Details from Prometric (2023)
Neither barbers nor cosmetologists are restricted to working with any particular gender. The hairdressing license you need deals more with hair length than whose scalp it comes from.
The big difference in terms of hair? The length. Barber programs usually focus on shorter hair, while cosmetology programs often focus on longer hair. All hair lengths need styling —and that's where Alabama's hairdressers can come in!
READ MORE: Learn More About Cosmetology School in AL
READ MORE: Learn More About Barber School in AL
But what if you want to work with natural hair and braiding? Cosmetologists or natural hairstylists can do that! Cosmetologists undergo a lengthy program, allowing them to perform many procedures. In contrast, Alabama's natural hair specialists undergo 210 class hours (or 420 apprenticeship hours). They can only perform hairstyles that don't require scissors or chemicals on the natural hair.
READ MORE: Learn More About Hair Braiding School in AL
Alabama Hairstylist Salary
Average yearly salary for hair design in Alabama
The average Alabama hairdresser earns in the mid-$30ks per year. The specifics depend on who you ask.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that Alabama hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn an average of $36,140 ($17.38 per hour) as of 2022. This government source uses business data and doesn't include self-employed workers.
Meanwhile, according to ZipRecruiter, which gathers data from job listings and a few outside sources, Alabama hairstylists earn approximately $15,500 to $56,000 per year, averaging $36,264 (or $17 per hour). Like the BLS, self-employed hairdressers aren't included, as they don't have employers.
Luckily, since these numbers are similar, we can be reasonably confident in their accuracy! But, your specific pay will vary based on years of experience, location, skill level, and more. The best way to estimate what you could make is to ask other local hairdressers what they make.
Contact the Alabama State Board of Cosmetology
- 100 North Union Street, Montgomery, AL 36130
- Website: Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Email: cosmetology@aboc.alabama.gov
- Call: 334-242-1918
- Fax: 334-242-1926