Craigentinny · City of Edinburgh
How to Start a Mobile Hairdressing Business in Craigentinny
What you need to know about council licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Craigentinny and the wider City of Edinburgh area.
See what's inside the Hairdressing Business Launch Kit — £22Before taking your first client as a mobile hairdressing business in Craigentinny, it's worth checking your specific council's position rather than assuming a blanket national rule applies across City of Edinburgh.
What the rules say
Mobile hairdressing has no single UK-wide licence -- the position is set council by council, with some local authorities keeping their own byelaw registration requirement and others dropping it entirely. Checking your specific council is the only reliable way to know where you stand. Trading without any formal qualification is legally fine, though HABIA-aligned NVQ/SVQ training is what clients and insurers commercially expect, especially for colour work.
Note for Craigentinny: Scottish councils set their own position on hairdressing/barbering byelaw registration, just as English and Welsh ones do -- confirm directly with the authority covering Craigentinny.
Quick answers
What records should I keep for clients in Craigentinny?
Keeping consultation and, where relevant, patch test records for clients in Craigentinny is standard practice and something insurers and professional bodies generally expect to see.
Do I need a council licence to be a mobile hairdresser in Craigentinny?
There's no single national licence. Some local authorities retain their own hairdressing/barbering byelaws requiring registration; others have deregulated entirely. Check directly with the council covering Craigentinny before you start trading.
Do I need a qualification to start a hairdressing business in Craigentinny?
No qualification is legally required to trade in Craigentinny or anywhere in the UK. HABIA-aligned NVQ/SVQ qualifications are the commercially expected industry standard, especially for colour and chemical services.
How do I get my first clients as a mobile hairdresser in Craigentinny?
Most mobile hairdressers in Craigentinny build their first client base through personal networks, local social media groups, and word-of-mouth referrals. The Hairdressing Business Launch Kit covers a full marketing and client-building plan.