Old Aberdeen · Aberdeen City
Starting a Mobile Hairdressing Business in Old Aberdeen
A straight answer on council rules, patch testing and your first clients around Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen City.
Explore the full Hairdressing Business Launch Kit — £22If you're considering a mobile hairdressing business in Old Aberdeen, two questions come up more than any other: council licensing and patch testing. Neither has a single flat answer -- here's what's actually known for Old Aberdeen and Aberdeen City.
What the rules say
There's no single national licence for mobile hairdressing -- but some local authorities retain their own hairdressing/barbering byelaws requiring registration, while others have deregulated entirely. You'll need to check the specific position for your own council. No qualification is legally required to trade, though HABIA-aligned NVQ/SVQ training is the commercially expected industry standard, particularly for colour and chemical services.
Note for Old Aberdeen: hairdressing/barbering byelaw registration is decided council by council across Scotland too -- check directly with the local authority covering Old Aberdeen rather than assuming either way.
Quick answers
Is patch testing a legal requirement for mobile hairdressing in Old Aberdeen?
This is genuinely contested and depends on the specific product and service -- it isn't a single settled legal requirement everywhere in the UK, including Old Aberdeen. The Hairdressing Business Launch Kit sets out the honest, current picture rather than flattening it into a false yes or no.
Do I need insurance to start a mobile hairdressing business in Old Aberdeen?
It isn't a general legal requirement for a self-employed sole trader in Old Aberdeen, but it's near-universal commercial practice and often a condition set by clients such as care homes. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on staff.
Can I offer colour and chemical services from the start in Old Aberdeen?
Many mobile hairdressers in Old Aberdeen build up to colour and chemical services as experience and client trust grow, since these carry higher skill and liability considerations than cuts and styling alone.
Do I need to charge for travel in Old Aberdeen?
Many mobile hairdressers in Old Aberdeen build a travel or call-out charge into how they structure appointments once they travel beyond their core local area, reflecting the time and mileage involved.