About the Hair Council
The Hair and Barber Council’s aim is to raise standards and improve professionalism within the hairdressing and barbering industry by encouraging every hairdresser and barber to join the UK Register of Qualified Hairdressers and Barbers. Set up by an Act of Parliament in 1964, the Hair and Barber Council enables hairdressers and barbers to apply to become State Registered.
Our Goals
Whilst state registration is mandatory for doctors, nurses, dentists and several other professions, it is not so for hairdressers and barbers for whom registration is currently voluntarily. The Hair and Barber Council has many aims: one of which is to increase significantly the number of hairdressers and barbers who join the UK Register of Qualified Hairdressers and Barbers, whilst also bringing about a parliamentary debate followed by a statutory change to the Current Act of Parliament, so that all practicing hairdressers and barbers will need to be registered in order to work in the UK.
In order to achieve our goals and to provide advice and support to registered hairdressers and barbers, the members of the Hair Council committee and the Barber Council committee, meet throughout the year to discuss ways to progress.
How Do We Benefit Hairdressers?
If you are a qualified hairdresser or barber, who is striving to generate a positive reputation in your area, being able to promote yourself as a State Registered Hairdresser (SRH) or a State Registered Barber (SRB) will immediately tell clients and potential clients that you are a qualified, professional hairdresser and/or barber.
As a state registered hairdresser and/or barber you will also receive advice and access to marketing materials to promote your status, copies of all our newsletters, discounts on insurance, access to HR support if required and the opportunity to become a Master Craftsman once you have been a registered member for two consecutive years or more.
You will also be added to our handy ‘find a salon‘ tool that helps consumers and clients looking for a skilled, local hairdresser or barber to find registered professionals in their area.
Find out more about how you can be recognised as a fully- qualified professional hairdresser or barber today – here.
How much does it cost?
The current annual cost for standard registration is £70.00 per year. This is just £1.34 per week.
The Hair and Barber Council is a not-for-profit organisation. The Council is funded solely by the registration fees it receives and through corporate sponsorship.
The Hair & Barber Council – The Voice of British Hairdressing and Barbering
Hair Council Committee Members
The Hair Council and Barber Council is committed to generating the professional reputation that the hair and barber industry deserves.
Made up of a Committee of some of the most respected names in the industry, as well as representatives of some of the most influential companies in the hairdressing and barbering industry, it meets on a regular basis to look for ways to increase the profile and promote the importance of self- regulation in the hairdressing and barbering sector.
The current Hair Council includes:
David Drew – Chair
Collette Osborne – Vice-Chair
Richard Clarke – Practising Hairdresser
Shamir Patel – Commercial Director Direct Salons, L’Oreal Professionale
Paul Fensome – Senior Education Manager, Wella
Jayne Lewis-Orr – Hairdressers Journal
Irene Meikle – UK Head of Education – KAO Salon Division (Goldwell and KMS
Mike Patey – General Manager – HBSA
Emma Mackay – Industry Manager for Hair, Beauty and Retail – City & Guilds
Caroline Larissey – CEO, National Hair & Beauty Federation
Carolyn Sweeney – Board Member, National Hair & Beauty Federation
Shella Abrahams – CEO – Freelance Hairdressers Association (FHA)