All roles/Dual roles/Steward / Hairdresser
Dual roles
Steward / Hairdresser
An interior steward or stewardess who also styles guests' hair on board, giving the owner and guests salon-standard blow dries, updos and cuts without the yacht carrying a separate stylist.
- Department
- Dual roles
- Reports to
- Chief Steward / Chief Stewardess
- Yacht size
- 50m to 150m+
- Contract
- Seasonal or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,200 per month
What the job is
A Steward / Hairdresser is a full member of the interior team who also looks after the guests' hair. Most of the day looks like any stew role: cabins, laundry, service and guest care. On top of that you blow dry, style and sometimes cut and colour for the owner, the guests and now and then the crew. Yachts hire the dual role because a guest wants salon-standard hair every evening and the boat has no bunk or budget for a full-time stylist.
The hair side is usually appointment based. You set up a small salon in a spare cabin, the spa or a guest bathroom, using your own kit: dryers, straighteners, tongs, brushes, products and colour if the owner allows it. Evenings are the busy slot, with blow dries before dinner, updos for a party ashore and quick fixes after a swim. You plan your interior duties around those appointments with the chief stew so neither side is dropped.
The role suits a qualified stylist who wants to work at sea, or an experienced stew with a hairdressing background. You will find it on yachts of 50m and above, often private boats with a regular owner or charter yachts that sell a wellness offer. You are judged on two things: whether the interior runs smoothly, and whether guests leave your chair happy. Charter tips are usually shared across the crew, though some guests tip the stylist directly.
What makes a good one
- Blow drying and evening styling
- Cutting and colour to salon standard
- Silver service and guest care
- Cabin and laundry standards
- Discretion with owners and guests
A day in the life
- 07:00Breakfast service on the aft deck with the second stew. Set the table, take coffee orders and clear as guests drift in.
- 09:00Cabin turnarounds on the guest deck. Beds, bathrooms and a full wipe down before guests come back from the morning swim.
- 11:00Laundry shift. Wash and press guest linen and the beach wear from yesterday's outing.
- 13:00Lunch service on the sundeck, then clear down and reset for the afternoon.
- 15:00Crew break. Check the salon cabin, clean brushes and restock products for the evening.
- 17:00Hair appointments begin. A blow dry for the charter guest and a sleek ponytail for her daughter, both booked for the dinner ashore in Positano.
- 19:00Final appointment, an updo for a guest's birthday. Tidy the salon and pack the kit away so the cabin is guest ready.
- 20:00Help the team turn down cabins while guests are ashore, then pre-set the bar for their return.
- 23:30Late drinks on the aft deck with the night stew, then handover and bed.
Pay by country
Monthly crew salary on 50m to 80m yachts, with a premium over a standard stew for the hair skill. Higher on larger yachts. Charter tips of 5 to 15% of the charter fee are usually shared among crew.
- France and Monaco
- €3,200 – 4,200
- Spain
- €3,200 – 4,200
- Italy
- €3,200 – 4,200
- United Kingdom
- £2,750 – 3,600
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,500 – 4,600
- Caribbean
- US$3,500 – 4,600
- UAE
- AED 12,900 – 17,000
- Australia
- A$5,400 – 7,100
- New Zealand
- NZ$6,000 – 7,800
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- Hairdressing qualification (NVQ Level 2 or equivalent)
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
Recommended
- NVQ Level 3 Hairdressing or equivalent
- PYA GUEST interior courses
- Food Safety Level 2
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
- Previous salon experience
Visas
- Schengen
- US B1/B2
- C1/D
Where it leads
Steward / Hairdresser jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need to bring my own hair kit?
Usually yes. Most stylists bring their own dryers, irons and brushes, and the yacht pays for products and colour once you are on board. Agree this before you join.
How much of my time is hair and how much is interior work?
On most boats it is roughly a fifth hair and the rest interior, rising on charters with several guests who book daily. Hair appointments take priority in the evening, so the chief stew plans your other duties around them.
Can I get the job without any yacht experience?
Yes, if you have a solid salon background and your STCW and ENG1 in place. Captains value the hairdressing skill, but you must show you can also clean, serve and live with crew.