Will AI replace Hairdressers and barbers?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 60 official task statements scored for Hairdressers and barbers (United Kingdom, SOC 6221), 7% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 11 out of 100 (range 8–16, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Hairdressers and barbers” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Maintain card files on clientele detailing work done, products used, and fees charged” (93/100, very high); “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors” (85/100, very high); “Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles, trends, and techniques” (75/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Hairdressers and barbers” stay human?

About 92% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Fit wigs, hairpieces, and prosthetics for clients” (0/100, minimal); “Use and apply products, tools and equipment to smooth and strengthen clients' hair to the degree of straightness required” (0/100, minimal); “Keep the workstation tidy” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Hairdressers and barbers” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 7% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 92% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Hairdressers and barbers calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 60 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Hairdressers and barbers

analysing clients' hair and physical features to determine beauty treatment, observing barbershop health and safety and carrying out tests and an in-depth complex consultation of the client hair and scalp to plan and agree the creative colour conversion service. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 7%
changing shape: 1%
staying human: 92%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 11 out of 100 (8–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 60 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for hairdressers and barbers is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

What shifts is collecting payments from customers. This page scores what today's tools actually do, not headlines.

Your week, as this page understands it

Hairdressers and barbers shampoo, cut, colour, style and treat hair. The job title says “hairdressers” or “barbers”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But hairdressers and barbers is not one task. It is 60 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 7%
changing shape: 1%
staying human: 92%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

7 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

6 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Collecting payments from customers
This is reading one thing and writing another: payments in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 60 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Collect payments from customers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (71–79 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Card machines and booking apps already take salon payments without anyone working out the total.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles
This is reading one thing and writing another: up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 6221/01
Source: “Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles, trends, and techniques.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Keeping up with trends and techniques is reading and watching published material, which AI can summarise.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Maintaining card files on clientele detailing work done
This is reading one thing and writing another: card files in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 50 · 6221/01
Source: “Maintain card files on clientele detailing work done, products used, and fees charged.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 93 out of 100 (89–97 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Client history cards are exactly the kind of record salon software keeps automatically.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Arranging appointments for clients and staff across various sectors
This is reading one thing and writing another: appointments in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 50 · 6221/02
Source: “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 85 out of 100 (81–89 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Booking appointments is scheduling work that online systems already do from start to finish.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Ordering stock according to specific business requirements
This is reading one thing and writing another: stock in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 50 · 6221/01
Source: “Order stock according to specific business requirements.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Working out what stock to order from usage figures is a job software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Changing shape

1 task

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Logging services provided on till receipts
The software now makes the first pass at services, but part of it still happens in the physical world. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 50 · 6221/01
Source: “Log services provided on till receipts.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 46 out of 100 (39–53 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Recording a service on the till is a simple entry, though it is made at the counter.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

53 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Cut hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cutting hair means hands, scissors and a person in the chair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Cutting hair
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Cut hair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cutting hair is physical work done on a real head of hair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Sanitising tools, such as scissors and combs
This work happens in the physical world: tools, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Sanitise tools, such as scissors and combs.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning and disinfecting tools is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Styling hair for clients or performances
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Style hair for clients or performances.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Styling hair for a client or a show is physical work on real hair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

Show the other 50 tasks

Ordering supplies to maintain barbering services
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: supplies in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 50 · 6221/01
Source: “Order supplies to maintain barbering services.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Reordering supplies from usage patterns is routine purchasing that software can handle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Analysing factors influencing the selection of the colour conversion technique
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: factors influencing the selection of the colour conversion, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/02
Source: “Analyse factors influencing the selection of the colour conversion technique used.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 38 out of 100 (31–45 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The theory behind colour choices is well documented, but the decision depends on the hair in front of you.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending products based on customer needs and desires
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/01
Source: “Recommend products based on customer needs and desires.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 35 out of 100 (28–42 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Recommending products from stated preferences is exactly what online recommendation tools already do well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Advising and consulting on hair
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Advise and consult on hair, skin, and scalp care.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: General hair and scalp advice is well documented, but judging a particular head needs seeing and touching it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Suggesting treatments to alleviate hair problems
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: treatments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6221/01
Source: “Suggest treatments to alleviate hair problems.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Common hair problems and remedies are well documented, but the diagnosis needs looking at the scalp.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending the use of cosmetics
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the use of cosmetics, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Recommend the use of cosmetics, lotions, and creams to clients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 26 out of 100 (19–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Product suggestions can be generated, but they land because a trusted stylist makes them in person.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Researching fashion trends using the results
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: fashion trends, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/02
Source: “Research fashion trends using the results to plan, design, create, produce and present a fashion forward hairstyle collection.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 24 out of 100 (17–31 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Trend research is easy to automate, but creating and presenting the collection is done on real models.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Operating tills to accept payment from customers
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: tills, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6221/02
Source: “Operate tills to accept payment from customers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 21 out of 100 (14–28 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Till software handles the transaction, though someone still stands at the till during service.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Questioning clients regarding desired services and haircut styles
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients regarding desired services, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/01
Source: “Question clients regarding desired services and haircut styles.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Questions could be asked through a booking form, though in practice they are asked face to face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Resolving problems that may occur during creative colour conversion service
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: problems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Resolve problems that may occur during creative colour conversion service.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fixing something going wrong mid-service means acting on the hair there and then.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Resolving problems that may occur during and after the hair smoothing and strengthening process
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: problems, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/02
Source: “Resolve problems that may occur during and after the hair smoothing and strengthening process.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Putting right a smoothing treatment that has gone wrong means working on the hair itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Advising and discussing haircut and grooming service options
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: haircut, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/01
Source: “Advise and discuss haircut and grooming service options.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Options can be described in writing, but the conversation happens with the client in the chair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Agreeing on the service provision with the client
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the service provision, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Agree on the service provision with the client.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Agreeing what will be done happens with the client present, just before the service.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Advising clients with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Advise clients with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Spotting a scalp condition needs looking at it closely, and the advice is given face to face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Demonstrating hair care products and cosmetics to customers
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair care products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Demonstrate hair care products and cosmetics to customers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Demonstrating a product on a customer means being there with the product and the customer.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Evaluating the results of the service and providing advice on future services and products for smoothing and strengthening
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the results of the service, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Evaluate the results of the service and provide advice on future services and products for smoothing and strengthening.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Judging how a treatment turned out means looking at and feeling the hair afterwards.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Adhering to health and safety
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Adhere to health and safety, infection control, legal, industry and organisational requirements, industry protocols and manufacturer instructions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Following hygiene and safety rules is something a person does in the salon, not a document AI writes.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Observing barbershop health and safety
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: barbershop health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Observe barbershop health and safety, legal and organisational requirements.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Observing salon safety and legal rules is behaviour on the premises, not paperwork.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Analysing clients' hair and physical features to determine beauty treatment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: clients' hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/02
Source: “Analyse clients' hair and physical features to determine beauty treatment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Judging hair type and face shape is done by looking at and handling the client's hair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Carrying out tests and an in-depth complex consultation of the client hair and scalp to plan and agree the creative colour conversion service
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: tests, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Carry out tests and an in-depth complex consultation of the client hair and scalp to plan and agree the creative colour conversion service.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 9 out of 100 (2–16 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Strand and skin tests are physical, and the consultation happens with the client present.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Styling and finishing hair using barbering techniques
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/01
Source: “Style and finish hair using barbering techniques.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Styling and finishing hair is done by hand on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Trimming and shaping beards and moustaches
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: beards, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Trim and shape beards and moustaches.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Trimming a beard needs hands and a razor on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying lather to beards, neck and temple hair contours
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: lather, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Apply lather to beards, neck, and temple hair contours.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying lather is done by hand on the client's face.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Delivering a positive customer experience that represents the barbering industry and the organisation
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: a positive customer experience, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Deliver a positive customer experience that represents the barbering industry and the organisation.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: A good salon experience is created by a person in the room with the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing shaving services
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: services, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/01
Source: “Provide shaving services.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Shaving a client is close physical work with a blade.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying hair products to complete styling tasks
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Apply hair products to complete styling tasks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying products to hair is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Preparing the hair for barbering services
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/01
Source: “Prepare the hair for barbering services.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Preparing hair before a service is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Shampooing condition and treating hair and scalp
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: condition, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Shampoo, condition and treat hair and scalp.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Washing and treating hair is physical work at the basin.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Washing and styling hair
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Wash and style hair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Washing and styling hair happens with hands on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying colours and tints to hair
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: colours, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Apply colours and tints to hair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying colour to hair is done by hand on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Cleaning and tidying work areas
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: work areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/01
Source: “Clean and tidy work areas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning and tidying a work area is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Performing a range of chemical services to change the colour depth and tone
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: a range of chemical services, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/01, 6221/02
Source: “Perform a range of chemical services to change the colour depth and tone.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Chemical colour services are applied by hand and watched closely on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Changing the hair classification type by one classification using chemical treatments
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the hair classification type, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6221/01
Source: “Change the hair classification type by one classification using chemical treatments.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Chemically changing hair texture is applied by hand and monitored on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Providing face, neck and scalp massages
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: face, neck and scalp massages, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 6221/01
Source: “Provide face, neck, and scalp massages.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Massage is done with hands on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Sweeping floors
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: floors, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 50 · 6221/01
Source: “Sweep floors.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sweeping floors is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Combing hair or wigs to detangle and smooth strands
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/02
Source: “Comb hair or wigs to detangle and smooth strands.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Combing out hair is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Dyeing hair using applicator or brush
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/02
Source: “Dye hair using applicator or brush.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Applying dye with a brush is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Massaging shampoo and condition customer's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: shampoo, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 95 · 6221/02
Source: “Massage, shampoo, and condition customer's hair and scalp to clean them and remove excess oil.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Shampooing and massaging the scalp is physical work at the basin.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Drying hair and scalp or hairpieces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/02
Source: “Dry hair and scalp or hairpieces.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Drying hair is done by hand with a dryer.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Using curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling tongs to style hair
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: curlers, rollers, hot combs and curling tongs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/02
Source: “Use curlers, rollers, hot combs, and curling tongs to style hair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Using tongs, rollers and hot combs is hands-on styling.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Using precision and personalised cutting techniques tailored to suit individual characteristics
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: precision, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 6221/02
Source: “Use precision and personalised cutting techniques tailored to suit individual characteristics.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Precision cutting to suit a face is skilled handwork on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Maintaining effective and safe methods of working and effective communication whilst completing creative colour conversion services
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: effective, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Maintain effective and safe methods of working and effective communication whilst completing creative colour conversion services.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Working safely during a colour service is what a person does with their hands throughout it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Recolouring hair treated with lightener and hair that has had artificial colour
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hair, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Recolour hair treated with lightener and hair that has had artificial colour removed.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Recolouring treated hair is applied by hand and watched closely.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing artificial colour and bands of colour
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: artificial colour, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Remove artificial colour and bands of colour.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Removing artificial colour is a hands-on chemical process on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Using a range of products
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: a range of products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Use a range of products, tools and equipment in accordance with legal requirements, manufacturers' instructions and salon policy.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Using products and tools correctly is physical work with the equipment in hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Using creative finishing and dressing techniques to complete the collection of hairstyle looks
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: creative, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 6221/02
Source: “Use creative finishing and dressing techniques to complete the collection of hairstyle looks.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Creative finishing is skilled handwork on real hair.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Fitting braids and hair extensions
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: braids, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/02
Source: “Fit braids and hair extensions.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting braids and extensions is close handwork.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Keeping the workstation tidy
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the workstation tidy, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/02
Source: “Keep the workstation tidy.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Keeping a workstation tidy is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Using and applying products
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: products, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 6221/02
Source: “Use and apply products, tools and equipment to smooth and strengthen clients' hair to the degree of straightness required.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Smoothing treatments are applied by hand and judged on the hair as they work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Fitting wigs, hairpieces and prosthetics for clients
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: wigs, hairpieces and prosthetics, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 6221/02
Source: “Fit wigs, hairpieces, and prosthetics for clients.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Fitting a wig or hairpiece is careful handwork on the client.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £24,300a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 129,300in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: collecting payments from customers and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where hair gets done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 7% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 1% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 92% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 60 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Collecting payments from customers is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether hair is in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near logging services provided on till receipts. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest UK occupations to hairdressers and barbers (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was coffee shop workers: only about 5% of its durable work is work you already do and it pays 11.0% less. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 11/100 here, with only 7% of the task list in the top band, and “cut hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of…” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 412 UK occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Coffee shop workers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “clean and tidy work areas”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 5% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 5% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: £21,598 against your £24,279, 11.0% less (ASHE Table 14.7a, 2025 provisional (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Beauticians and related occupations
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “advise clients with chronic or potentially contagious scalp conditions to seek medical treatment”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 5% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 5% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Design occupations n.e.c.
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “fit wigs, hairpieces, and prosthetics for clients”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 2% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 7% of its task weight, across 60 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like cutting hair using a range of techniques to create a variety of styles arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In US official statistics this job is counted as First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services, First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers, Barbers and Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

No Space for this job, but one for what is happening to it

Nothing Collab365 runs is built for hairdressers / barbers, and we are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

There is one that is not about a job title at all. The AI Authority is about being the person who directs these tools at work rather than the person they get compared to. That is worth saying here, because 7% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.

Try The AI Authority free →

7 days free, no card needed. Explore up to 2 Spaces before you choose a plan: you pick a plan later, not now.

The AI Authority is a general community about working with AI, not a course for hairdressers / barbers. You do not need it to act on anything here: the moves above cost nothing and stand on their own. The data on this page is the same either way.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for hairdressers / barbers launches. Nothing else.

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No Space for hairdressers / barbers yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for hairdressers / barbers existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

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We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for hairdressers / barbers launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Hairdressers and barbers?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 60 official task statements scored for Hairdressers and barbers (United Kingdom, SOC 6221), 7% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 11 out of 100 (range 8–16, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Hairdressers and barbers” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Maintain card files on clientele detailing work done, products used, and fees charged” (93/100, very high); “Arrange appointments for clients and staff across various sectors” (85/100, very high); “Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new and emerging hairstyles, trends, and techniques” (75/100, high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Hairdressers and barbers” stay human?: About 92% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Fit wigs, hairpieces, and prosthetics for clients” (0/100, minimal); “Use and apply products, tools and equipment to smooth and strengthen clients' hair to the degree of straightness required” (0/100, minimal); “Keep the workstation tidy” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Hairdressers and barbers” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 7% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 92% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Hairdressers and barbers calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 60 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
7 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

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Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.