Hawaii Hair Schools and Requirements

Hawaii requires anyone who works on hair to have a hairdressing or cosmetology license. So, you need to go to school to become a hairdresser.

Browse our directory of hair design schools in Hawaii, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair design licensing requirements and job outlook.

What Can Licensed Hairstylists in Hawaii Do?

As Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs says, "Hairdressers work on hair." As long as the hair is on the head, you can probably work with it as a hairdresser. This includes cutting, dyeing, bleaching, chemically curling and straightening, and more.

Hawaii Hair School Student Requirements

Before beginning a hair school program in Hawaii, you need to make sure you meet the state's age, citizenship, education, and other requirements. These include:

• Being at least 16
• Being a US citizen or legal resident
• Having a high school diploma or GED
• Having an acceptable criminal record

If you meet these requirements, start looking for a hair school! But if you have questions about any of it, reach out to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Hair School Curriculum in Hawaii

Hawaii's hairdresser curriculum includes 1,250 school or 2,500 apprenticeship hours exclusively on hair treatments. You can also combine apprenticeship and school hours with two apprenticeship hours equaling one training hour. The state's required hair school curriculum is divided as follows:

• Coloring and Bleaching: 150 hours
• Haircutting: 150 hours
• Hairdressing and Shampooing: 350 hours
• Perms: 175 hours
• Scalp and Hair Treatments: 50 hours
• Shop Management: 50 hours
• Straightening: 50 hours
• Theory: 100 hours
• Unassigned: 175 hours

Hairdresser Exams in Hawaii

Hawaii requires potential hairdressers to take theory (written) and practical exams created by the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) and administered through Prometric. NIC calls them "hair design" exams.

In addition to studying for your practical and theory hair design tests, you need to plan far in advance. Here are some important things to consider:

• You must apply for your exam at least seven weeks before the exam month.
• The Board must approve your application before you can register for your test.
• Tests are only three times yearly, generally in January, May, and October.
• You must go to Kailua, Oahu, for your test.
• If you don't pass, you must wait until the next test date to retake it.

The theory test consists of 100 scored and 10 unscored questions. It covers all topics you should have learned in hair school, divided into scientific concepts and hair care and treatments.

For the practical test, you need to show off your skills to a test proctor. If you learned it in school, you'll probably have to do it. Topics include:

• Work area and client preparation
• Heat curling
• Hair cutting
• Chemical waving
• Predisposition and strand tests
• Foil highlighting
• Hair color retouching
• Hair relaxing
• Blood exposure procedure

Once you've passed your exams, you can get your Hawaii hairdresser license. You don't need continuing education when you renew by December 31 of every odd-numbered year. However, taking extra hair school courses couldn't hurt!

Hawaii Hairdresser Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hawaii's hairdressers and cosmetologists earned an average of $34,170 annually as of 2022.

However, that number doesn't include freelance or self-employed hairdressers, and many people choose that as their career path. It also includes people who work 40 hours per week, and beauty professionals may work more or less than that.

The best way to determine your pay potential is to decide where you want to live and the workplace you want, then find someone in a similar position to talk to about pay (and anything else).

Contact the Hawaii State Board of Cosmetology