The hairdressing industry plays an important part in the services sector of Hong Kong. More than 20,000 employees, including stylists and technicians at different levels, work in thousands of salons to serve the people in Hong Kong. Some others work in hairdressing product companies to provide support to salon operation.

The Hong Kong hairdressing industry has enjoyed a privileged position in Southeast Asia. Hairdressers in the region came to learn from our hairdressers, who have also developed their business and provided technical training in the mainland since 1990s. As an international centre of information technology (IT), finance, re-export and services with a prime geographical location and close ties with China, Hong Kong has become the information hub for industry trends for more than one billion people in China after the reunification.

With the growing economy, the living standard of Hong Kong people has been improving. Consumers demand better hairdressing service. The industry has become more proficient and comprehensive. More advanced tools and equipment are used as a result of technological progress and development in the industry. Hairdressers are thus required to improve their knowledge and skills by continuous training in order to provide quality service.

New opportunities are brought by the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and the mainland. Hairdressers here have taken the advantage of this open market and gone north for business development. They need to understand the market and receive professional training to meet the industry standard in China.

The pre-employment training or on-the-job training courses in hairdressing currently provided in Hong Kong do not cover all areas of development in the field. Not many hairdressers have received systematic and professional training. Only limited on-the-job training is provided mainly through an apprenticeship system or product-oriented courses provided by hair product traders. Standards of hairdressers vary while many are not equipped with proper knowledge in the profession and work procedures.