Aveda Beauty Schools
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness

Barbering Program at Aveda Institute Madison

Build a barbering career grounded in craft. Clipper work, fades, shear-over-comb, straight-razor shaves, and beard design, paired with the client-building skills that fill a chair week after week.

1,000 clock hours · Aveda Institute Madison

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Barbering student finishing a fade on a client
Hands-On
Clinic Floor Training
Aveda
Product Training
Madison
Campus Location
Sassoon Connect
Haircutting Program

Credential

Barbering Certificate

Program Length

1,000 clock hours

Schedule

Full-time or 3-Day

Next Start

NOVEMBER 30, 2026

Campus

Madison

Course Overview

A complete, hands-on education in Barbering

Build a barbering career grounded in craft. Clipper work, fades, shear-over-comb, straight-razor shaves, and beard design, paired with the client-building skills that fill a chair week after week.

You'll learn the Aveda way at our Madison campus: pure, plant-based products and a philosophy rooted in wellness and environmental responsibility. From the first day on the clinic floor, you'll gain real experience with real guests, guided by educators who've worked in the industry.

Our Madison Barbering program is 1,000 clock hours of theory and hands-on clinic practice, and it prepares you to sit for the Wisconsin state licensing exam.

Barbering program, precision haircut training
Barbering student finishing a clipper cut on the clinic floor

Curriculum

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

A structured path from core theory to advanced, guest-ready technique.

Infection control, safety and sanitation, hair and skin science, and the fundamentals of men's cutting. Build the knowledge base your state board exam is built on.

Clipper-over-comb, scissor work, tapers, and seamless fades, practiced first on mannequins, then on the barber floor with real guests.

Traditional straight-razor shaves, hot-towel service, beard shaping and line-ups, and the grooming rituals that define a great barbershop experience.

Men's color and gray blending, scalp and skin care, and product knowledge that turn a single service into a full grooming routine.

Building a book of business, social-media marketing, booth-rental vs. ownership, interview prep, and state-board readiness.
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A Day in the Life

See yourself Here

Barbering students at work in the Madison clinicA finished barbering cut at the Madison campus

From morning theory to the clinic floor, Barbering students at our Madison campus spend their days doing real beauty work with real guests.

Sharpen Your Craft 

TRAIN ON BARBER FUNDAMENTALS

Sassoon-inspired cutting technique meets the Pivot Point Fundamentals: Barbering curriculum, so every fade, shave, and shape is built on a proven system.  

Core

Aveda

Pure, plant-based, vegan hair and body care. Aveda's philosophy of wellness and environmental responsibility is woven through every phase of your training.

TOOLS

DYSON

The renowned hair dryer measures air temperature more than 40 times per second. Preventing heat damage while keeping hair shiny. 

CURRICULUM

Pivot Point Fundamentals: Barbering

The Pivot Point Fundamentals: Barbering textbook and Learn Aveda online curriculum, the structured theory foundation behind every cut, shave, and state-board topic you'll cover in the program.

Tuition, Kit & Financial Aid

A clear picture of your Investment

Program Tuition

Request a personalized cost breakdown

Total program cost including required fees, tailored to your schedule and aid eligibility.

  • Federal financial aid available to those who qualify
  • Scholarships & grants
  • Monthly payment plans
  • 1-on-1 support from our financial aid team
Talk to Financial Aid

Your Student Kit

Included

Professional tools and products you'll use in class and keep for your career.

  • Pivot Point Fundamentals of Barbering with Learn Aveda
  • Andis clipper set, BaByliss clipper, and edger
  • Hattori Hanzo shear and thinning shear set
  • Barber razor, Jatai razor kit, and dryer
  • Aveda Pure-Formance grooming line
  • Four Pivot Point manikin heads with comb and cape set
Barbering student's hands shaping a razor line on a client

Student Success

HEAR FROM OUR FUTURE PROFESSIONALS

“I liked Aveda's high graduation rate, which gave me peace of mind and made me feel I'd be successful at this school. Overall, Aveda offers a positive professional environment that sets you up for success and helps you reach your goals, which is something I strive for.”
Elizabeth K. • Cosmetology
“Since I started at Aveda, I've noticed positive growth in myself and my mindset as I learn about the art of hair. I enjoy the positive and supportive atmosphere and feel like I belong for once in my life.”
Lunar W. • Cosmetology
“The teachers are all wonderful people!”
Prosper V. • Massage Therapy

Upcoming Start Dates

Find the start that Fits Your Life

Start Date

NOVEMBER 30

2026

Schedule

Day · Full-time29 weeks
  • Mon 9am-4pm
  • Tue-Fri 8:30am-4pm

Application Deadline

Rolling, apply early

Apply

Start Date

DECEMBER 14

2026

Schedule

3 Day34 weeks
  • Mon-Wed 10am-9pm

Application Deadline

Rolling, apply early

Apply

Start Date

JANUARY 4

2027

Schedule

Day · Full-time29 weeks
  • Mon 9am-4pm
  • Tue-Fri 8:30am-4pm

Application Deadline

Rolling, apply early

Apply

Contact admissions for exact upcoming cohort dates and application deadlines.

FAQ

Frequently asked Questions

The program is 1,000 clock hours. Full-time students on the 5-day schedule typically finish in about 7 months. Students on the 3-Day schedule typically finish in about 8 months.

You'll earn a Barbering Certificate and be prepared to sit for the Wisconsin state licensing exam to become a licensed barber.

Total tuition for the Barbering program is $15,800 (2025-26): $13,500 tuition plus a $2,300 program kit (includes tax). Interest-free payment plans are available, and federal financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify. Down payments are due two weeks prior to the start of classes, and all tuition must be received in full no later than three weeks prior to graduation.

No experience is required, just a passion for beauty and wellness and a willingness to learn. Our admissions team will guide you through the requirements and enrollment steps.

You'll train primarily with Aveda's plant-based, vegan professional products, plus other professional lines you'll see in the field, Ultraceuticals skincare, OPI nail products, keratin and smoothing treatments, and more. Most importantly, you learn the technique and product chemistry behind them, so your education applies to any product line you work with after graduation.

The program covers the theory and hands-on technique of barbering and prepares you to sit for the Wisconsin state licensing exam.

We offer multiple start dates throughout the year on both full-time and 3-Day schedules. See the start-date table above or request info for the next available cohort.

We're at 7021 Tree Ln, Madison, WI 53717, in Madison's west side on Tree Lane. All Barbering classes and clinic floor hours happen right here at the Aveda Institute Madison. Call (608) 250-3100 or schedule a tour.

Are You Ready?

Start your tomorrow today at the Aveda Institute Madison.

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