Should Your Salon Hire an Apprentice?

Frances Lythgoe • May 19, 2026

For many salon owners, hiring an apprentice can feel like a difficult decision. When appointment books are full and your stylists are already stretched, bringing in someone inexperienced may feel like it would add more pressure rather than more support.

As a result, many salons choose to hire someone with more experience, even when it comes at a significantly higher cost.

But with wage costs continuing to rise, driven by increases to the National Living Wage and higher employer National Insurance contributions, apprenticeships are becoming a more practical option for many salons. In some cases, they can be a better long-term investment than hiring a fully trained stylist straight away.

So how do you decide what’s right for your salon?

What an apprentice actually is

An apprentice is an employee who combines paid work with structured training. They work towards a recognised qualification while gaining hands-on experience within your salon.

They are not unpaid help or just an extra pair of hands; they are part of your team and should have real responsibilities.

In a salon environment, apprentices often support with:

preparing clients for appointments
washing and drying hair
maintaining salon cleanliness
managing refreshments and client care
supporting senior stylists
reception and appointment support
learning core cutting and colouring skills

The financial side

Many salon owners assume apprenticeships are expensive, but they are often more affordable than you would expect.

Apprentice wages are lower while training takes place, and depending on the apprentice and the size of your business, training costs may be fully or partly funded. In some cases, additional employer support may also be available.

For salons that need more support but cannot yet justify another senior salary, apprenticeships can sometimes provide a more manageable route to growing the team.

It is also important to think long-term. While an experienced stylist may contribute immediately, in time an apprentice can become a valuable member of the business if trained well from the start.

The advantages

One of the biggest advantages is the opportunity to train someone around your salon’s standards, systems and client experience from day one.

Over time, this often leads to team members who fit naturally into the culture of the business and understand how the salon operates.

Apprenticeships can also support retention. Many salons find that people who develop within the business are more likely to stay and progress over the long term.

You may have also noticed that there is also a wider recruitment challenge affecting the industry. Finding experienced stylists can be difficult and expensive, particularly for newer salons.

The drawbacks

The biggest consideration is time. An apprentice will need support, supervision and patience, particularly during the early stages. That responsibility usually falls on senior stylists who are already managing busy schedules and client expectations.

You should also expect productivity to build gradually rather than immediately. And as we all know, mistakes are always part of any learning process.