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Hairdressing & Styling

Style, treat, and grow a salon business.

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About this course

Learn cutting, styling, treatments, and the salon-business skills to turn talent into income.

To be a top hairdresser, you first need to understand the different kinds of hair you'll meet. Just like people, not all hair is the same. Knowing these differences helps you decide which products to use and how to handle the hair without causing damage. This understanding is the foundation for every good wash, style, or treatment you give.

Who this course is for

For anyone who wants hair to be a business rather than a favour: young women and men who already braid for friends and family, salon apprentices who want the theory their madam never explained, and people planning to open a salon or a home service. It is also used by existing stylists who want to add treatments, weaving and business skills to what they already do. No prior training is assumed.

What you'll learn

By the end you will be able to

Pay, demand and the market in Nigeria

Hair is a non-negotiable spend for most Nigerian women and a fast-growing one for men. In 2026, braiding starts at ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 depending on style and city, knotless and long styles reach ₦20,000 to ₦50,000, weaving and wig installation ₦8,000 to ₦30,000, treatments ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, and bridal work ₦50,000 to ₦200,000 and above. A stylist doing three to five clients a day from home can reach ₦200,000 to ₦500,000 a month; a salon with two or three chairs, considerably more, though rent, power and staff take a share. Home service is the fastest-growing segment — clients pay a premium to avoid traffic.

Tools and what it costs to start

Combs, brushes, sectioning clips, a good pair of scissors, a hand dryer, and a starter kit of shampoo, conditioner, treatment and setting products — about ₦40,000 to ₦90,000 in 2026. A standing dryer, salon chair and mirror station come later. Extensions and wigs are usually bought per client or supplied by the client. A phone for booking, payments and before-and-after photos is essential from day one.

Course syllabus — 10 lessons

  1. Hair types and treatment12 min
  2. Scalp and hair health: what to look for before you touch15 min
  3. Styling and finishing16 min
  4. Chemical services done safely: relaxers, texturisers and colour16 min
  5. Natural hair and protective styling15 min
  6. Braids, weaves, and extensions18 min
  7. Wigs: making, installing and revamping15 min
  8. Hygiene, tools and the professional consultation15 min
  9. The salon business: home service, pricing and bookings15 min
  10. Project: 3 client looks50 min

Your project

My First Salon Showcase

A link to a Google Drive folder or a single PDF document containing 3 'before' photos, 3 'after' photos, and 3 short descriptions of the styles.

Three real clients, three complete looks. You submit before-and-after photos and a short description of each style, product choices and time taken. The examiner looks at neatness, tension and finishing, at whether the style suits the client, and at how you present your work — because the salon showcase is also your first marketing portfolio.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify. See the full project brief, rubric and free workbook →

Frequently asked questions

Is Hairdressing & Styling free?

Yes. Hairdressing & Styling is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Hairdressing & Styling take to complete?

9 weeks · in-person + online. There are 10 lessons, about 3 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Hairdressing & Styling?

Beginner-friendly. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Hairdressing & Styling?

You will build practical skills in Washing & treatment, Styling, Braiding & weaving, Salon business, Scalp and hair health, Safe chemical services, Natural hair and protective styling, Wig making and installation, Salon hygiene and consultation, Pricing, home service and bookings. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Hairdressing & Styling?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — My First Salon Showcase and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

Do I need a salon to earn from hairdressing?

No. Most Nigerian stylists start at home or as a home service, and many never rent a shop. The course treats home service as a business model in its own right, with pricing for travel and time.

How long before I can charge clients?

Braiding and simple styling can be charged for within a few weeks of consistent practice; treatments and cutting need more supervised hours. The course is structured so that you take paying clients for the styles you have mastered while you keep learning the rest.

Is hairdressing a good trade for men in Nigeria?

Yes. Men's grooming, locs, cornrows and barbering-adjacent styling are among the fastest-growing services. Pair this course with the free Barbing & Grooming course if you want the full men's offer.

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