Hairdresser profile on Websta: how to set up in Ireland

What your Websta profile should contain

Your profile is a dedicated page that works like a small website. It shows who you are, what services you offer, photos of your work, and how people can contact you or book time with you.

Start with a clear profile photo of yourself - a professional headshot or a photo in your work setting. Add photos of hair work: cuts, colours, styles you have done. These matter more than text because people want to see the quality and style range you deliver.

List the services you offer: cut, colour, styling, treatments, perms, extensions, or whatever applies to your work. You control what you list and how you describe each one.

Include a way for people to get in touch. Websta lets you add a contact form and online booking. Decide which suits your work better - some hairdressers prefer clients to book a time slot directly, others ask for a quote request first so they can discuss what the client wants.

Photos and language for your profile

Photos are essential. Clients browse hairdressers by looking at images of finished work. Include a mix: full head shots, close-ups of detail work, before-and-after pairs if you have them, and ideally photos that show the range of styles, hair types and colours you work with.

Publish your profile in English. Most people in Ireland searching for local services use English, and Websta operates in English across Ireland. If you serve a specific community that uses another language, you can add a second language, but English is the primary one.

How people in Ireland find hairdressers on Websta

On Websta, people search for hairdressers by service type and location. They browse the marketplace at /marketplace/hair and filter by what they need and where they are. A person in Limerick looking for a cut will see hairdressers nearby. A person in Belfast looking for colour work will see providers in their area who offer that service.

People also post tasks - they describe what they want done and where they are, and hairdressers can make offers. This works well if you want to reach people actively looking for your type of service.

Your profile appears in these searches. The clearer your service list and photos, the more likely people searching for what you do will find and contact you.

Tax, insurance and business registration in Ireland

If you work as a sole trader hairdresser in Ireland, you must register with Revenue for self-assessment tax. You will need a Personal Public Service number (PPS number) if you don't already have one. Contact Revenue or visit their website for the current process.

You must declare your income and pay tax on your earnings. Keep records of what you earn and spend.

Public liability insurance is important. If a client has a reaction to a product or is injured in your chair, this protects you. Check with an insurance broker about costs and what cover you need for your type of work.

If you work in a salon that is not your own, these may be arranged already, but confirm with your employer. If you rent a chair or work from home, you arrange them yourself.

Some councils or local authorities have rules about working from home - check with your local authority before you set up if you plan to work from a domestic address.

What to write in your first hour

You don't need a long text profile. Start with a short description of what you do: your specialisms, how long you have been working, and your approach. One or two sentences is enough. Example: 'I cut and colour hair, specialising in long hair and natural looks. I work by appointment.'

Add your services list. Write the name of each service clearly and a short note if needed: Cut - €25, Colour consultation available, Styling for events. You set the prices, not Websta.

Upload your best photos. Start with five or six photos of finished work. You can add more later.

Add your contact details and set up booking or quote requests so people can get in touch.

Check the profile looks right on a phone, because most people search on mobile.

Booking and quote requests

Decide whether to offer online booking slots or ask for quote requests. Online booking works if you have regular hours and want to reduce back-and-forth messages. Quote requests work if every appointment needs discussion first - for example, if colour work always needs a consultation to understand what the client wants.

Websta supports both. You can use online booking for appointments and still take quote requests for consultations or complex work.

Getting started

Set up your Websta profile with a clear name and location. Use your town or area - Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, or wherever you work. People search by location, so accuracy matters.

Upload a profile photo and at least five photos of your work.

Write your short description and list your services.

Set up how people contact you - booking, quote requests, or both.

Once your profile is live, it appears in searches. People nearby looking for hairdressing will find you.