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Hairstylist interview questions and how to answer them

A salon interview is half conversation and half audition. Most owners will hand you a mannequin head or a live model before they make an offer, so your answers only get you to the chair. Here's what they ask, why, and what a good answer sounds like from someone who's stood behind the chair on a packed Saturday.

12 questions8 minute read

Part 1

1.Walk me through your consultation with a new client who says, 'Just do whatever you think.'

Why they ask

That line causes more unhappy clients than bad technique does. They want to know you pin down what the client actually wants before the scissors come out.

How to answer

  • You still ask about their routine: how long they spend styling, whether they air-dry, how often they come in
  • You ask to see photos of what they've loved and hated before
  • You touch the hair, check the growth patterns, cowlicks and density, and say out loud what will and won't work
  • You describe the plan back in plain words, including length, and get a yes before starting

2.A client comes in with box-dyed black hair and wants to be a light blonde today. What do you do?

Why they ask

This tests color theory, honesty, and whether you'll protect the hair and the salon's reputation over a big ticket.

How to answer

  • Do a strand test before promising anything, because box dye lifts unpredictably and can band
  • Explain it'll take several sessions, and that color remover or a bond builder like Olaplex may be part of the plan
  • Set honest expectations about warmth, cost and how the hair will feel between visits
  • Get it in the client notes and book the follow-up before they leave

3.Tell me about a time a client was unhappy with their service. What happened next?

Why they ask

Every stylist has one. They want to see you own it, stay calm at the chair, and keep the client.

How to answer

  • Pick a real story, like a toner that came out brassier than planned
  • Say what you did in the moment: listened, didn't argue, offered a fix
  • Explain how you fixed it, whether that was a gloss on the spot or a free redo appointment
  • Say what you changed afterward, and whether that client came back
4.How do you build and keep your book?

Why they ask

On commission, your book is your paycheck and theirs. They want to know you'll fill your chair, not just wait for walk-ins.

How to answer

  • You prebook the next appointment at checkout, before the client reaches for their phone
  • You post your own work on Instagram with the salon tagged and reply to messages quickly
  • You keep notes on formulas, kids' names and what the client liked last time in the booking system
  • You ask happy clients for referrals and reviews, and you mention the salon's referral card if there is one
5.What's your approach to texture and curls you don't see every day?

Why they ask

Clients with coily, curly or very fine hair often say salons turned them away or wrecked their hair. Owners want someone who can serve everyone who walks in.

How to answer

  • Be honest about your comfort level with each texture
  • Name what you've actually done: cutting curls dry, silk presses, a specific curl method you've trained in
  • Say how you'd learn the rest, such as classes, education days or shadowing a colleague
  • Mention you'd refer a client in-house before faking it

Part 2

6.How do you handle retail? Do you recommend products?

Why they ask

Retail is a real part of salon income and some owners track it by stylist. They want recommending to feel natural, not pushy.

How to answer

  • You use the products on the client during the service and explain why as you go
  • You tie each one to a problem they mentioned, like frizz or color fading
  • You write down the regimen or hand them the bottles at the front, then let them decide
  • You know the lines the salon carries, whether that's Redken, Kérastase or a smaller brand
7.You're running well behind and your next client is already in the waiting area. What do you do?

Why they ask

Timing breaks down in every salon. They want to see you protect the schedule without rushing the client in the chair.

How to answer

  • Tell the waiting client right away and offer a drink or a shampoo from an assistant
  • Ask the front desk to text your later clients so nobody's surprised
  • Finish the current service properly rather than cutting corners on the blowout
  • Look at why it happened, like booking a double process into a single slot, and fix your service times
8.Show me how you'd keep your station and tools sanitized between clients.

Why they ask

The state board can inspect without warning, and a failed inspection falls on the whole salon. They also just don't want clients seeing dirty combs.

How to answer

  • Clean combs and brushes of hair, then fully immerse them in an approved disinfectant like Barbicide for the listed contact time
  • Wipe down the chair, the cape and the station surfaces after every client
  • Use fresh towels and neck strips every time, and bin anything single-use
  • Mention that rules differ by state, and you follow the board's rules where you work
9.What kind of pay setup are you looking for: commission, hourly plus commission, or booth rental?

Why they ask

They need to know you understand how each model works and whether their setup fits you before either side wastes time.

How to answer

  • Say which one you prefer and why, based on your book size and how much control you want
  • Ask how commission tiers work and whether product costs come out of your share
  • Ask about education, product, and who owns the client list if you leave
  • Stay open, but don't pretend you'll be happy with a setup you won't
10.How do you keep your skills current?

Why they ask

Trends move and so do techniques, like balayage, lived-in color or tape-in extensions. Owners want stylists who keep learning without being pushed.

How to answer

  • Name a real class, brand education event or certification you've done
  • Say what you're learning now and why clients are asking for it
  • Mention you practice new techniques on mannequin heads or models before a paying client
  • Show interest in the salon's own education days

Part 3

11.Tell me about a disagreement you had with a coworker at a salon.

Why they ask

Stylists share a dispensary, a shampoo bowl and a front desk. Fights over clients, color stock and cleanup sink small teams fast.

How to answer

  • Pick something real and small, like who cleans the color bar or a client who switched stylists
  • Say you talked to the person directly and privately first
  • Explain the outcome and what you agreed on
  • Keep it respectful, with no gossip about the other person
12.Why do you want to work here and not somewhere else?

Why they ask

They want to know you looked at their work and their clients, and that you're not just going to leave with your book in a few months.

How to answer

  • Mention something specific from their Instagram, reviews or menu, like their color work or their curl specialty
  • Connect it to the clients you want to build
  • Say what you're hoping to learn from the team or owner
  • Keep it honest, not flattering

Questions to ask them

Ask at least two. It shows you're picking them too.

  • How do new stylists get clients here? Do walk-ins and new bookings get shared, and how?
  • What does education look like, and does the salon pay for classes or brand training?
  • Who owns the client list and the booking notes if I move on?
  • What does a typical Saturday look like here for someone at my level?
  • What product lines do you use in the back bar, and do stylists pay for their own tools and color?
Career guideWhat a Hairstylist does, and what it pays
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Skills to learnHairstylist skills: what to learn first
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