Key Takeaways 

• Two leaders at Great Clips, Inc. share how high-quality training can support confidence, skill-building, leadership development and career growth for stylists 

• From Great Clips Academy for new stylists to trend classes for experienced professionals, Great Clips salon stylists find broad training support 

As stylists, there’s one thing you can always count on — change. From the latest haircut trends on TikTok to the hottest styles on Instagram, popular looks are shifting and evolving faster than ever.  

But how can you have a finger on the pulse of celebrity influencers and social media, learn new technical skills, and still hold down your day job? If you’re a stylist at a franchised Great Clips® salon, we’ve got you covered.  

We sat down with Director of Education Services Sue Aderhold and Director of Learning & Development Lora Peterson at Great Clips, Inc., to learn more about one of the biggest perks of joining the world’s largest salon brand — education for all. 

Q: Why does the Great Clips brand invest so heavily in education and training for salon teams? 

Lora: Great Clips® salons are not in the business of delivering products, we deliver experiences. The only way to provide every customer with a great, consistent haircut experience is through training. It’s the key to ensuring customers get the haircut they want, efficiently. This translates to satisfied customers—and tips for stylists! 

Sue: Education is also how we help every stylist feel confident, passionate, and proud. To be a great stylist, you can NEVER stop learning. You’ve got to stay relevant! As haircutting specialists at Great Clips, we have to stay on top of the latest trends, techniques, and products, so we provide the education stylists need to stay ahead of the curve.  

Q: With about 30,000 Great Clips stylists across the U.S. and Canada, that’s a tall order. 

Sue: In addition to training that franchisee organizations provide stylists at their respective salons, we offer over 400 live classes every month! The sheer number of training opportunities is a game changer, because it’s all available virtually, on demand. That means stylists don’t have to wait. They can get started right away, accessing the right training at the right time, right where they are. I started off my career working behind the chair and, without question, Great Clips offers the best education in the industry. 

Lora: Wherever a stylist is in their career, and whatever their preferred learning style, we have training available. For new stylists, we have our foundational haircut courses, and one-on-one technical coaching sessions with education specialists. If a more experienced stylist wants to be a leader, we offer coaching academy as well as a salon manager training program called LEADS. Every quarter we teach new haircut trends in our Great Clips On Trend classes. Plus, we have countless courses and learning opportunities on specific topics such as how to improve your haircut consultations, how to deliver great product recommendations, and how to work with all hair textures, from straight and fine to tightly curled hair. No matter what skills stylists want to develop, there are online courses and a training calendar full of offerings. 

What are your favorite training opportunities?  

Lora: I love our Shear Artistry series. It’s a suite of focused, 30 to 60-second videos that stylists can use to boost their technical skills and proficiency. They simply log into Great Clips University to watch.  

Sue: My favorite is the one-on-one sessions for stylists to work on their technical skills and deliver the Great Clips brand with every cut. Stylists can pop in online for an hour to work with a skilled trainer and, with more than 250 hours of one-on-one sessions available every month, stylists have a wide range of options to find a time that best fits their schedule   

Lora: In a one-on-one session, a stylist can ask a focused question like, “how do I do this haircut that I just saw on TikTok?” It’s such a great way to up your game. 

Sue:  The impact and flexibility of the one-on-one sessions are just a couple of the reasons why they are so great and, in my view, no other brand provides better training opportunities for stylists.   

Does Great Clips University offer value to both new and experienced stylists?   

Sue: New stylists definitely gain confidence through our courses. They can practice foundational haircutting skills and get the repetition that’s needed to feel comfortable. Practice builds confidence! Experienced stylists love our live, virtual training, too. Our approach to service is unique, and when veteran stylists learn the Great Clips mindset, they feel energized and excited.  

All stylists new to the Great Clips system take part in a training program called Great Clips Academy. We take a survey after stylists complete the program, and across all skill levels, we consistently score 4.8 or 4.9 out of 5. 

How do you promote haircut consistency across salons?  

Lora: The franchisees who own and operate Great Clips salons are encouraged to have a certification process for their stylists. It’s a way to ensure every stylist knows the Great Clips cutting and clipper system, our technical foundation, and how to successfully deliver the Great Clips brand. 

Sue: Plus, training is customized to meet the needs of the individual stylist. We have watch and learn demos, cut-along virtual classes where stylists use mannequins to practice as they learn, videos for independent learning, and technique-focused videos for basic to advanced skill levels. All videos are in line with the Great Clips systems, and we offer our foundational haircut classes in English and Spanish.  

Lora: Some materials are also available in Vietnamese. And Zoom – which we use for our live training – can translate subtitles into a stylist’s native language. We want stylists to experience a learning environment that’s comfortable and inclusive. 

What about education for stylists seeking career growth?  

Sue: Whether a stylist wants to advance their technical skills or manage a salon, we have the education and training opportunities available. 

Lora: If you want to grow, we’ve got you! Talk with your franchisee or salon management team to let them know you are interested in career advancement. No matter what skills you want to develop, no matter where you want your salon career to go, working at a Great Clips franchised salon can provide the opportunities and resources to help you achieve your goals.   

Unlock next-level haircutting skills 

If you’re looking for a salon role that offers best-in-class education and training, Great Clips could be a good fit for you!  See what opportunities are currently available with a local, franchised salon near you by using our job search tool.  

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.