A MUM wants more support for young hair stylists as she believes the self-employed model used by many salons is discouraging people getting into the industry.

Elaine Tyler's daughter was made redundant from a city salon six months ago when it shutdown and is now struggling to find permanent work as a hair stylist because of the rent-a-chair scheme.

The 21-year-old, who did not wish to be named, was close to completing a level three hair course at Wolverhampton College when she lost her job and the small clientele she'd built up.

The rent-a-chair model means stylists rent a space and equipment from a salon, but must pay them a weekly rate of apparently up to £200.

For the likes of Mrs Tyler's daughter, this means "trying to live off £50 a week" – while most salons want you to have an established clientele already, she said.

"This is why it’s so difficult for youngsters who have just qualified," said Mrs Tyler, 55.

"It takes years to build up a steady clientele to be able to afford that kind of cover and have money to live on.

“I have gone round all the salons in the city and all of them use rent-a-chair. Then they've to get insured and get an accountant because they're self-employed."

Mrs Tyler said her daughter has even applied for lower down positions at salons but been told she is over-qualified, and is now considering going into retail despite having dreamed of being a hairdresser since she was five.

Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hairdressers Federation said: "While renting a chair is common in some salons, many others still take on employees.

"They tell us that it’s extremely difficult to recruit good stylists, so we’re happy to help if the stylist would like to get in touch with us."