Arizona Hair Schools and Requirements

If you want to be an Arizona hairstylist, you need to choose between a non-licensure and licensure path. While not going through the time and cost to become a hairdresser may be tempting, unlicensed stylists have limitations that licensed ones don't.

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

How to Become a Hair Designer in Arizona

After hair school, Arizona stylists can cut and use chemicals on hair — essentially perform anything you'd imagine a hairdresser can! However, those who don't go through hair school can only clean, condition, and design hair without chemicals or scissors. Both can braid hair.

While those who don't use chemicals or cutting tools don't have to get a license, they do have to pass a course in sanitation and law. They also need to ensure clients know they're not licensed.

Folks who perform hair braiding with no other services don't have to undergo any training, including sanitation and law classes.

READ MORE: Learn More About Hair Braiding School in Arizona

What Happens in Arizona Hair School?

Arizona hair design programs last for 1,000 hours and include coursework in all areas of haircare, including (but not limited to):

• Haircutting, clipping, and trimming
• Chemicals that dye, curl, or otherwise treat hair
• Hairstyling and dressing
• Removing hair from above the neck without electrical equipment or threading

What's on the Arizona Hairstylist Exams?

Licensed hairstylists in Arizona need to pass two NIC Hairstylist Exams. The tests cover what you learned in school and have you prove your understanding via writing and a hands-on demonstration.

Arizona's theory (written) hairstylist exam includes:

• Science, including sanitation, anatomy and physiology, and hair chemicals
• Hair care and treatments

The practical test includes ten demonstration steps:

• Preparing work area and client
• Curling
• Haircutting
• Preparing work area and new client
• Chemical waving
• Hair disposition and strand test
• Highlighting with foil
• Color retouching
• Hair relaxing
• Blood exposure procedure

Should I Go to Hair School in Arizona?

There are technically three paths to becoming a hairstylist in Arizona, two of which involve school.

• Never go to hair school and be allowed to only perform hairstyles.
• Get some practice as an unlicensed stylist and later go to hair school.
• Go to an Arizona hair school and, upon graduation, be able to perform all sorts of hair treatments.

The benefit of option number one is that you don't need to go to school or pay for licensure.

With the second possibility, you could make sure this is the field for you before spending time and money on a hair school.

And with the third, you can jump into a full hairstylist career after getting your license.

To provide services beyond hair treatments, you should consider a cosmetology program. This would allow you to do nails, makeup, and basic skin care in addition to hair.

READ MORE: Learn More About Cosmetology School in Arizona

Hairstylist Salary in Arizona

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in Arizona make an average of $42,070 per year as of 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Boiling down to strictly Arizona hairstylists, ZipRecruiter shows they earn an average of $42,912 as of 2023. Both datasets leave out self-employed hairdressers, so the pay for freelance or self-employed hairstylists could be far different.

Be sure to ask around in your Arizona city to find out what you could expect to earn as a hairstylist.

Contact the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology