31 Aug Hair Design License in Utah: What It Is and How to Get One
If you have been looking into barber training in Utah, you have probably seen references to both the Barber license and the Hair Design license. They are connected but not the same thing. The Hair Design license adds a meaningful set of services to what you can legally offer, and it only costs 200 additional hours.
Here is a clear breakdown of what the Hair Design license covers, how you earn it, and whether it is the right path for you.
What the Hair Design License Allows You to Do
A Barber license in Utah covers clipper work, shears, straight razor shaving, and hair cutting. The Hair Design license adds chemical services. With it, you can legally perform:
- Hair coloring and color correction
- Grey blending and highlights
- Permanent waving
- Chemical relaxers
- Thermal styling and smoothing treatments
These are services a growing number of male clients want. Barbershops that offer color and chemical services have a real competitive edge. Having both licenses means you can take on those clients without turning them away.
How Long Does the Hair Design Program Take?
The Hair Design program at The Barber School requires 1,200 total training hours, compared to 1,000 for the Barber license. The additional 200 hours are not a separate track started from scratch. You complete the full Barber curriculum and then continue into the Hair Design hours.
At a full-time pace, the Hair Design program runs approximately eight months. Part-time students can complete it over up to 15 months. Evening classes are available, and new classes start every month.
The State Board Exam for Hair Design
After completing 1,200 hours, you sit for the Utah state board exam. It has both written and practical components. The written portion covers the science behind coloring, waving, and relaxing hair. The practical portion tests your ability to perform the services competently.
At The Barber School, 98% of students pass their state board exam on the first attempt. The curriculum is built around exactly what the exam tests.
Who Should Add the Hair Design License?
The Hair Design license is worth pursuing if:
- You want to work in a barbershop that offers color and chemical services, which are increasingly common as shops expand their menus
- You are building toward owning your own shop and want to offer the full range of services from day one
- You want maximum career flexibility, including the ability to work in both barbershops and salons
- You have clients who ask for color services and you want to serve them yourself rather than referring them elsewhere
The extra 200 hours is about two months of full-time training. For most students who are serious about barbering as a long-term career, that time is worth the expanded scope of practice.
Financial Aid Applies to the Hair Design Program
Federal financial aid is available for both the Barber and Hair Design programs at The Barber School. File a FAFSA using school code 041927 to see what you qualify for. Many students reduce their out-of-pocket cost significantly through Pell Grants and other federal assistance.
Apply now or contact admissions to learn more about the Hair Design program.