There is no legal barrier to entry
Unlike gas work or electrical installation, hairdressing carries no statutory registration requirement. Anyone can open a salon, and anyone can advertise as a hairdresser or barber, whatever their training.
That is not an argument against small or new salons, many of which are excellent. It means the responsibility for checking sits with you, and that qualifications are worth asking about rather than assuming.
The voluntary register
The Hairdressing Council maintains a voluntary register of State Registered Hairdressers under the Hairdressers (Registration) Act 1964. Registration requires recognised qualifications or assessed experience. Relatively few hairdressers are on it, so its absence means little, but its presence is a verifiable credential rather than a claim.
Patch tests are not a formality
Permanent and semi-permanent hair colour commonly contains PPD, which causes allergic reactions that can be severe and can develop suddenly in someone who has coloured their hair for years. Manufacturer instructions require an allergy alert test before each colour service, typically 48 hours beforehand.
A salon offering to colour your hair today with no prior test is departing from those instructions, and may find its insurance does not respond if there is a reaction. This is the most common corner cut in the trade.
If you have reacted before
A previous reaction to hair dye, or to a black henna temporary tattoo, substantially raises the risk. Tell the salon, and consider asking your GP before any further colour.
What to ask before a first appointment
Ask who will actually be doing the work, since a booking with a salon is not a booking with a particular stylist. Ask for a consultation before a major change, and ask what the price covers, because colour is often quoted per service with extras added afterwards.
- Confirm a patch test at least 48 hours before any colour
- Ask for an itemised quote for colour work
- Check the salon holds public liability and treatment insurance
- Ask whether the stylist holds an NVQ or equivalent, and at what level
Frequently asked questions
- Do hairdressers need a licence from the council?
- Not for hairdressing itself in most of the UK. Councils do license related treatments such as skin piercing, tattooing and electrolysis, and in London the London Local Authorities Act adds further requirements for some treatments. Barbers offering wet shaving may be covered in some areas.
- What can I do if a treatment goes wrong?
- Raise it with the salon first and give them the chance to put it right. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, which entitles you to a repeat performance or a price reduction. If you have been injured, the salon insurer is the route, and photographs and dates matter.
- Is a more expensive salon better trained?
- Price reflects location, overheads and demand at least as much as skill. Since there is no compulsory register, ask about qualifications and recent training directly rather than reading price as a proxy.
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About this guide
Written and maintained by the LocalListed editorial team. It describes UK regulation and consumer protections in general terms and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and change over time: always check the position with the named regulator before relying on it.