How do you become a hairdresser in Denmark?
Foreword
You don't need to train as a hairdresser to open your own salon or call yourself a hairdresser. "Hairdresser" isn't a protected title. Even so, most people choose to get qualified, partly to improve their skills and partly because "the 4-year programme" still acts as a mark of credibility for many clients and colleagues.
Do you even need to get qualified?
It's entirely up to you. Ask yourself: do you need it? Will it make your working life easier? If the answer is yes, go for it.
The 4 paths into the 4-year vocational programme as a hairdresser
Made up your mind? Great. Here are the four paths in, and how to find the one that's right for you.
First path: Basic course 1 (GF1)
GF1 is for you if you're coming straight from 9th or 10th grade. Needed a short break? Don't worry, you just need to have finished 9th/10th grade less than 14 months before starting school. GF1 takes 6 months and combines practical training and theory.
Some people skip GF1 altogether. If you have a signed apprenticeship agreement before starting school and have passed your 9th/10th grade exams, you can go straight to GF2.
Second path: Basic course 2 (GF2)
After GF1, you continue to GF2. It takes 20 weeks and gives you a basic understanding of the hairdressing profession.
Third path: New apprenticeship route
If you start through the new apprenticeship route, you replace GF1 and GF2 with an apprenticeship at a real salon instead. Sounds better? You still need to have passed your 9th/10th grade exams and three theory subjects along the way. If you're worried about the theory subjects, GF1/GF2 may be the safer route after all. Just because there's a shortcut doesn't mean it's right for you.
Fourth path: EUX
EUX combines hairdressing training with an upper secondary school leaving certificate, giving you access to higher education as well. The programme lasts 5 years and 6 months - longer, but good insurance in case you later find out that life as a hairdresser isn't for you after all.
Hairdressing schools in Denmark
- NEXT København
- EUC Sjælland, Næstved
- Syddansk Erhvervsskole (SDE) in Odense
- TechCollege in Aalborg
- Hansenberg in Kolding
- Rybners, EUD in Esbjerg
- EUC Syd in Aabenraa
- Aarhus Tech
- Tradium in Randers
- Herningholm EUD in Herning
- Struer Statsgymnasium
What the training looks like along the way
The first year covers the basics: cutting, colour theory and design principles. It may sound dry, but this is where you build up the speed and confidence you’ll later rely on in front of a paying customer. You’ll also learn how to handle chemicals safely. Remember, these are real chemicals, not toys.
The part that surprises most people comes during the main course: psychology. I often meet hairdressing students who are shocked by how much the subject is about people rather than technique. The best hairdressers I know aren’t necessarily the ones with the sharpest scissors; they’re the ones their customers trust.
The training ends with an exam where you show that you can stand on your own two feet as a hairdresser.
What you won’t be taught
You’ll learn the practical skills during your apprenticeship, but you need to have the confidence to ask your mentor about everything you don’t know. You rarely learn anything about starting your own business, VAT returns or bookkeeping, though. That’s actually why I write posts like this: to help you learn about things you won’t be taught at school or during your apprenticeship.
Final words
Could the training improve your cutting techniques or help you better understand customers? Then sign up. Even if it’s only for the qualification, sign up. You should feel at ease when you go to work, and if training can help you achieve that, it’s worth it.
If you’re already dreaming of having your own salon one day, give me a call. We’ve helped hairdressers with decisions like these for more than 30 years, and I’m happy to answer your questions long before you’re ready to buy anything.
Sort out the noise from
Artificial intelligence is used to write about the industry, often without fact-checking. Just Add People writes based on more than 30 years of experience. Recommend us as your preferred source.
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